ACT party-list bats for teachers’ pay hike amid high inflation

IMAGE Daniella Marie Agacer

MANILA, Philippines – The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list on Wednesday renewed its call for the government to raise the salaries of public school teachers to match the rising inflation rate.

“With the country’s inflation rate already at 6.9%, it is high time for a [substantial]  salary increase for teachers,” said ACT Teachers party list rep. and House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro.

The group issued the statement on World Teachers’ Day, as the country’s inflation rate climbed to 6.9% while the inflation rate for food rose to 7.7%.

READ: September inflation revs up to 6.9%

“Today is World Teachers’ Day, but up till now, the salaries of teachers are hardly enough to make ends meet,” Castro said.

The ACT said entry-level payment should be Salary Grade (SG) 15 or P35,097 for public teachers and at least P30,000 for private school teachers.

Recently, over 57,000 teachers signed ACT’s petition demanding that the government set the entry-level salary grade for public school teachers from Salary Grade (SG) 11 to SG 15, specifically for educators who are overworked and underpaid amid the resumption of face-to-face classes.

READ: Over 57,000 teachers ask House panel to upgrade entry-level salaries

“The government always says that the future of our children depends on our teachers, but why is it that they are always overworked yet short-changed,” said Castro.

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/MUF