Teachers demand P30,000 monthly minimum salary

The minimum monthly salary of teachers should be raised to P30,000 from the current P20,000, according to some public school teachers who protested in Mendiola on Monday morning.

According to a report by Cecille Villarosa on GMA News TV's Balitanghali, some members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers gathered early for a rally to ask for a pay hike before they proceeded to their respective schools for the official opening of classes.

The protesters complained that the fourth and last tranche of the salary increase—pursuant to an executive order released by the Aquino administration—can just be considered as alms.

Under the last tranche of wage hikes for government workers, which was implemented by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year, a professional with a rank of Teacher 1 receives an increase of P500 while a Master Teacher 3 is entitled to a P4,000 salary increase.

"Ngayon po ay tatlong taon na si President Duterte, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang tinutupad sa kanyang mga pangako," ACT Philippines national president Joy Martinez said.

"Ang mga pulis ay dinoble na ang sahod kahit ito ay walang pag-aaral na ginawa. Samantalang kaming mga teachers mula noong 2016 hanggang ngayong 2019, pang-apat na tranche ay parang limos lamang ang binigay ng gobyerno, nung panahon pa ito ni President Aquino. Saan aabot yung P500 na dagdag sahod para sa ating mga teachers?" Martinez added.

She added that the government should also abide with the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers which provides for a periodic review for salary increase every three years.

The protesters called the rally "Almusalang Guro." They shared rice, dilis, and instant noodles for breakfast to symbolize the daily struggle of teachers to make ends meet with meager salaries.

They also urged Education Secretary Leonor Briones to do surprise visits to better understand their plight.

"Kay Secretary Briones, bumaba ka sa aming mga paaralan, 'yung hindi announced para makita mo ano 'yung tunay na kalagayan naming mga teachers sa usapin ng sahod, sa usapin ng aming mga karapatan at sa usapin ng kalayaan namin sa paggawa," Martinez said. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News