Camille Naredo

Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers hold a rally outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 3, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers hold a rally outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 3, 2025, calling for higher wages and a bigger education budget as Congress deliberates on DepEd’s proposed 2026 budget, in time for National Teachers’ Month.
Protesters also urged lawmakers to address shortages in classrooms, teachers, and learning resources, stressing that urgent government action is needed to uplift the public school system. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Alliance of Concerned Teachers

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177660601071920250903-teachers-day-protest-congress-MT20.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers hold a rally outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 3, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers hold a rally outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 3, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Sunday outlined measures to help ease the growing financial burden on public school teachers, acknowledging concerns over rising debt during the National Festival of Talents (NFOT) in Roxas City, Capiz.Angara said the Department of Education (DepEd) is expanding support mechanisms, including emergency borrowing options and loan restructuring, to help teachers better manage their finances.&quot;We&#x27;re helping our teachers manage their loans. Meron tayong Provident Fund. Pwedeng umutang iyong ating mga teachers, especially &#x27;pag may kalamidad, pang-emergency,&quot; Angara said.&quot;Tapos siguro maganda diyan may loan consolidation program din tayo na ino-offer ng ibang institution. Dahil minsan umuutang ang teacher sa masyadong mataas ang interest. Pag may loan consolidation, ay papasok dun sa ibang institution at hindi na masyadong mataas ang interest,&quot; he added.The DepEd chief&#x27;s remarks come as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) warned of a worsening debt crisis among educators, attributing it to persistently low wages.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/23/deped-orders-simple-meaningful-graduation-rites-amid-rising-fuel-prices-1820" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: DepEd orders simple, meaningful graduation rites amid rising fuel prices</a></div>&quot;Teachers are buried in debt not because they are financially irresponsible, but because our salaries have long been grossly insufficient. How can anyone manage an income that vanishes the moment it arrives, automatically swallowed by loan payments, rising costs, and relentless bills in the midst of an unending crisis?&quot; said ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo.The group said most rank-and-file teachers earn below the family living wage and are forced to rely on loans to meet daily expenses, despite periodic salary adjustments.&quot;For decades, wage hikes have been stingy and piecemeal, only to be taken back amid overlapping crises and automatic increases in taxes and contributions. This is why teachers are driven to desperate measures just to get by and support their families. It is the system itself that turns us into professional borrowers, because our salaries are far from professional,&quot; Bernardo added.ACT reiterated its call for substantial salary increases, including a proposed P50,000 entry-level pay for teachers, warning that frustration among educators continues to grow.&quot;If this government continues to turn its back on us, we will bring our fight from the classrooms to the parliament of the streets. We are prepared not only to march, but to strike and walk out until the government is forced to listen. A system that exploits and neglects teachers cannot stand unchallenged,&quot; Bernardo said.While DepEd maintains that financial assistance programs can provide immediate relief, teachers&#x27; groups insist that long-term solutions hinge on meaningful salary reforms.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Sunday outlined measures to help ease the growing financial burden on public school teachers, acknowledging concerns over rising debt.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Sunday outlined measures to help ease the growing financial burden on public school teachers, acknowledging concerns over rising debt.

DepEd offers loan restructuring to teachers amid concerns over debt

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DepEd offers loan restructuring to teachers amid concerns over debt

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 19, 2026 09:43 PM PHT

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