DepEd on Teachers' Day protest calls: We are committed to take action

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Saturday that it would take "meaningful action" on concerns raised by Filipino teachers, particularly those who staged classroom walkouts and rallies on World Teachers' Day.

Saying it acknowledges issues raised by the protesters, the DepEd assured that it has been engaging with representatives from the teaching profession.

Marchers on Friday called out the Marcos administration and education officials over long-standing concerns related to salaries, workload, and the education budget, while venting anger over public funds lost due to corruption in the ongoing flood control projects scandal.

"We are in continuous dialogue with teacher representatives to address these concerns collaboratively. Rest assured, the DepEd leadership is not only listening but is committed to taking meaningful action," said Dennis Legaspi, DepEd's chief media relations officer.

In Manila City, protesters lamented that teachers have been burdened with inadequate salaries and poor school infrastructure, resulting in a decline in the quality of education as the government plays "games" with public funds.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has warned that larger protest actions would be launched if the government turns a blind eye to their demands.

Legaspi said, "We respect our teachers' right to peaceful assembly and acknowledge the important issues they are raising."

At the same time, Legaspi said the Marcos administration "continues to champion" the welfare of teachers and other government workers through reforms such as Executive Order (EO) 64, which he said "delivered a significant and much-needed boost to educators' wages."

Signed on August 2 last year, the EO provides that salary increases for state workers will be implemented in four tranches effective on the first days of 2024 to 2027.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos has vowed to fulfill the constitutional mandate of assigning the highest budgetary priority to the education sector in the proposed 2026 national budget.

The DepEd has stressed that for the first time ever, the Philippines would meet the UNESCO benchmark for education spending at 4% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) under the proposed budget.

During the demonstrations, however, protesters insisted that government should provide a substantial salary increase for teachers and education support personnel; double the education budget to 6% of GDP; and put an end to alleged attacks on teachers' rights. — VDV, GMA Integrated News