Teachers push P50k entry-level pay, higher allowances

A day before World Teachers’ Day, teachers and education sector workers staged a protest outside the gates of Malacañang Palace on Sunday, calling for an entry-level salary of P50,000, higher allowances and a bigger national budget for education.

In a press release, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines urged the Marcos administration to demonstrate its support for educators by increasing their pay and raising their Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) to P5,000 from the current P2,000.

Amid Congress’ deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget, the group also called for allocating 6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to education to address persistent shortages, deteriorating school infrastructure and the worsening learning crisis.

"Matagal nang ipinagkikibit-balikat at dinadaan lang sa mga matatamis na papuri at pangako ng administrasyong Marcos Jr. ang tugon sa ating kagyat at makatwirang mga kahingian para sa disenteng sweldo, dagdag benepisyo, at sapat na pondo sa edukasyon,” ACT Secretary-General Raymond Basilio said.

(The Marcos Jr. administration has long brushed aside our urgent and reasonable demands for decent pay, higher benefits and adequate education funding, responding with nothing more than sweet praise and promises.)

Basilio said teachers, whom the administration has described as heroes and a top priority, tropped to the Palace gates to reiterate their demands to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"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," he added.

(We challenge the President to prove his recognition not just through speeches and statements, but by immediately improving the welfare of teachers, staff and the entire education sector.)

The group also demanded accountability from the administration over alleged corruption and what it described as the continued underfunding of education and social services.

Tensions

Tensions flared during the protest as scuffles broke out between participating teachers and government security personnel.

In an update by Tuesday Niu of Super Radyo dzBB, security personnel from the Presidential Security Command were seen blocking and pushing back rallyists who attempted to stage a demonstration in front of a school inside the Malacañang Complex.

ACT Philippines strongly condemned what it described as the violent dispersal of protesters by police outside Malacañang.

In a report by Super Radyo dzBB reporter Luisito Santos, the group said 16 teachers and students were injured following the dispersal. It added that several belongings of the protesters were damaged and that authorities confiscated two megaphones.

To mark World Teachers’ Day on October 5, ACT Philippines announced that it would mobilize and march again toward Mendiola, joined by other government employees and civic groups.

The group's central call remains: “Dagdag sweldo, hindi dagdag trabaho! Ipaglaban ang karapatan at kagalingan, sapat na badyet at makabayang edukasyon!”

(Higher pay, not more workload! Fight for our rights and welfare, adequate funding and patriotic education!) — MCG, GMA News

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