Teachers group slams P85 daily wage increase: ‘Grossly inadequate’

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the government-approved P85 daily wage increase for minimum-wage earners in Metro Manila falls far short of what Filipino workers need, as it remains inadequate to keep up with rising living costs.

“Any wage increase won by workers is welcome, but let us not mistake crumbs for genuine economic relief,” said ACT Chair Ruby Bernardo in a statement on Tuesday.

“The P85 increase remains grossly inadequate against the relentless rise in the prices of food, transportation, housing, utilities, fuel, and other basic necessities,” she added.

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The Department of Labor and Employment announced an P85 increase in the daily minimum wage for Metro Manila workers. The adjustment is the largest wage hike ever approved by the National Capital Region’s wage board.

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“The Marcos administration entered office with promises of better salaries for teachers, reduced administrative workload, fair compensation for overtime and teaching overload, and stronger government support for public education,” Bernardo said.

“Four years later, teachers remain overworked, underpaid, and forced to shoulder the consequences of the government’s chronic neglect of the education sector,” she added.

According to ACT, public school teachers continue to spend their own time, effort, and money to meet classroom needs.

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Public school teachers also face overcrowded classes, heavy administrative work, and other responsibilities beyond teaching, the group said.

The group renewed its call to raise the entry-level salary of public school teachers to P50,000 and increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance to P5,000.

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It likewise urged the government to enact a P1,200 daily minimum wage for all workers.

“The greatest crisis confronting teachers today is survival itself,” Bernardo said.

“No educator who has dedicated their life to teaching should have to worry whether their salary will be enough to feed their family, pay rent, or meet their children’s educational needs,” she added.

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ACT called on teachers, workers, parents, students, and the Filipino public to sustain efforts advocating for higher wages, better working conditions, and stronger public education. /mcm