Teachers’ group bats for P50,000 entry pay, more spending for education

MANILA, Philippines—A day before World Teachers’ Day, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Sunday staged a protest outside Malacañang, demanding a P50,000 entry-level salary.

The teachers’ group also called for a P5,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), and higher government spending on education.

READ: Government workers continue to push for P5,000 PERA

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ACT also urged the government to allocate 6% of the country’s gross domestic product to education, saying additional funding was needed to address shortages, deteriorating school conditions and the country’s learning crisis.

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The protesters likewise called for greater accountability over corruption, saying inadequate funding for education and other social services remained a concern.

“Hamon namin sa Pangulo na patunayan ang kaniyang pagkilala hindi lamang sa mga talumpati at pahayag, kundi agarang iangat ang kalagayan ng mga guro, kawani at ng buong sektor ng edukasyon,” said Raymond Basilio, ACT Secretary-General. 

(We challenge the President to prove that his recognition goes beyond speeches and statements by taking immediate steps to improve the conditions of teachers, education workers and the entire education sector.)

Basilio said teachers and the public should be able to benefit from government revenues through better salaries, benefits and social services, rather than see public funds wasted through corruption.

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“Kung hindi matitinag ang administrasyong ito, tuloy-tuloy ding kikilos at makikibaka ang mga guro upang panagutin ang lahat ng pahirap at kurakot at baguhin ang bulok na sistema,” Basilio said.

(If this administration remains unmoved, teachers will continue to organize and fight to hold accountable those responsible for worsening people’s hardships and corruption, and to change the rotten system.)

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ACT said thousands of teachers and education workers, along with government employees and other sectors, would join a larger mobilization and march to Mendiola on Monday, Oct. 5, in observance of World Teachers’ Day.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition will hold a Mass for teachers at Quiapo Church at 3 p.m. on Oct. 4 as part of its observance of World Teachers’ Day.

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The Mass will be followed by a program and symbolic protest at Plaza Miranda, where the group will call for higher salaries, better teacher protection, fairer promotions and greater education funding. /gsg