MANILA -- The Alliance of Concerned Teachers urged the government on Wednesday to prioritize granting substantial salary increase to all workers, including teachers, citing the impact of inflation on the price of basic commodities. 

They reiterated their call for P50,000 entry-level pay for teachers in both public and private schools, P33,000 for salary grade 1 employees, SG16 for instructor 1 in state universities and colleges, and P33,000 national minimum wage. 

“Magdadalawang taon na sa pwesto ang pangulo ngunit nananatiling lugmok sa hindi nakabubuhay na sahod ang mga guro, kawani, at manggagawa. Hindi lang tuwing papalapit na sa kinse-katapusan ang petsa de peligro ng sangkaguruan at kawani, kundi buong buwan. Akmang akma rin ang tawag sa pay slip dahil dumudulas lang talaga sa kamay ang aming mga sweldo. Kapos na kapos ito sa family living wage na nasa halos P1,200 na kada araw kaya kalakhan sa amin ay napipilitang mangutang at humanap ng iba pang pagkakakitaan para mapunan ang matinding kakapusan sa aming sweldo,” ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said. 

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“Nasaan na ang pangakong sama-samang babangon at mismong pangakong itataas ang sweldo ng mga guro noong kampanya? Imbis na maging abala sa pagtugon sa kagyat na pangangailangan ng mamamayan e mas abala pa ang administrasyong Marcos Jr. sa pagsusulong ng chacha na iilan at mga dayuhan lang ang makikinabang,” he added. 

The group announced that they will stage the “A Thousand Lights for Salary Increase” activity on April 26, and mobilize thousands of its members to join the 2024 Labor Day protest to join all workers and other sectors to collectively call for livable salaries and wages. 

“Instead of wasting time pushing for ChaCha… the Marcos Jr. administration should redirect its focus and utilize public funds in improving the quality of education through granting substantial salary increase to all education workers and addressing perennial backlogs and massive shortages in educational needs,” Quetua said.

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