Unions and associations of government employees, teachers, health workers, and nurses in the public sector collectively submitted a petition to Ferdinand Marcos Jr to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA). They submitted the petition at the national office of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in Manila on February 13.

They said it is long overdue to raise PERA, which has remained stuck at ₱2,000 for 16 years. The petition filed by the Courage (Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees), Kalakon (Kawani Laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Alliance of Health Workers (AWH), and Filipino Nurses United (FNU) demanded that PERA be increased to ₱5,000 to keep up with the rapid rise in the cost of living.

The government first established PERA in 1991 to supplement the salaries of government employees as a buffer against inflation. In 2009, Congress consolidated existing allowances for public sector workers and fixed the rate at ₱2,000. It has not been raised since, despite repeated demands from unions and organizations.

The groups’ renewed push to raise PERA has already gained more than 25,000 public sector employees’ signatures. They also reportedly held other activities in support of the campaign.

Teachers and unions under ACT held protest actions in various schools across the National Capital Region (NCR) on the day the petition was submitted. Members of the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines (SWEAP)-NCR, part of Courage, also held activities in their offices and at Mendiola in Manila. The AHW and FNU likewise held a separate protest in Mendiola.

According to ACT, public sector employees are sinking deeper into debt and insecurity because of the government’s lack of adequate support. The teachers’ group said the meager salaries of those in the public sector are simply not enough to live on.

The group added that the government continues to neglect them, especially when Marcos can easily raise the pay and allowances of the military and other uniformed personnel through a mere executive action. “If the administration can use executive intervention for the MUPs, doing the same for ordinary government employees should be reasonable. We are not asking for a special privilege but our right to a decent life,” ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.

ACT further emphasized that their demand to raise PERA is only an urgent step to help public sector employees. Unions and organizations will continue to push for a substantial salary increase.