ACT: Teachers’ pay hike ‘a big fat lie’

A militant teachers group on Monday slammed the Department of Education and Presidential Communications Operations Office for their statements that the teachers’ salaries increased under President Duterte’s term. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the claim was “a big fat lie,” noting that teachers are still the lowest paid professionals with a monthly pay of only P23,877 while soldiers and police officer get P30,000 and nurses, P35,000. From a P23,877 monthly salary for Teacher 1 this year, teachers’ pay are set to increase to P25,439 by 2022 and P27,000 in 2023. For 2021, Teacher 1 received a monthly increase of P1,561 but taxes and mandatory contributions amounted to P2,759. While Teacher 2 and 3 got P1,557 and P1,522 monthly increases, their contributions and taxes amount to P3,384 and P4,022 respectively. ACT said the 30-percent pay hike was lower compared to the 177-percent increase during former President Fidel Ramos’ term, 39.9 percent under former President Joseph Estrada and 54 percent under former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. —Jane Bautista