Teachers and their organizations held pickets and activities in 212 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) on November 7 as part of the weekly Black Friday Protest to hold accountable the Marcos regime for corruption and its failure to address teachers’ demands. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) NCR Union led and said the action also served as preparation for the nationwide “sit-down strike” to be launched by ACT Philippines on November 28.

According to ACT Philippines, they have long demanded for a meaningful salary increase, sufficient education funding, and care for teachers, but instead these go to corruption. “We are not asking for luxuries—we are demanding what is rightfully ours,” ACT Philippines chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.

The teacher-leader added, “The students’ future is at stake here, so we cannot remain silent.” Bernardo said with deep disappointment that while the Marcos regime squanders public funds through all kinds of pork barrel allocations, teachers are left with crumbs and meager wages.

Bernardo said ACT Philippines unions from various regions and provinces are expected to join the next Black Friday Protest. “Enough with the promises—we need concrete and immediate action from this government,” she said.

Bernardo declared that teachers in the forthcoming sit-down strike would directly hold Marcos accountable for his primary responsibility in massive corruption and the lack of adequate support for education. “He is not merely a bystander—he is the mastermind who allowed, if not orchestrated, the systemic plunder of public resources,” said Bernardo.

Under Marcos, billions of pesos intended for classrooms, teachers’ salaries, and school materials disappeared because of anomalous deals, ghost projects, and enormous confidential funds, according to Bernardo.

“This fight is not only for teachers—it is for every Filipino child deprived of quality education because of corruption and neglect,” Bernardo said. ACT Philippines declared it would not stop protesting until justice, transparency, and genuine reform in the country’s education system are achieved.

The Black Friday Protest is a weekly demonstration organized by groups under the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK or People’s Movement Against Corruption), which led the 100,000-strong protest at Luneta Park, Manila on September 21. On November 30, KBKK will once again lead a massive people’s protest against corruption at Luneta Park and other areas nationwide. The group’s main call: “Hold everyone involved accountable!”