Teachers’ associations and unions in the National Capital Region under the leadership of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-NCR Union have been launching various forms of collective action to call for an increase in their monthly salaries since February 14, Valentine’s day, up to today.

Their activities include hanging tarpaulins, holding noise barrages, dance protests, picketing, and other creative forms in their respective schools in Quezon City, Pasig City, Caloocan City, Muntinlupa, Navotas City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, Taguig City, Marikina City and Manila City.

“On Valentine’s day, we not only (express) our love for teaching but also demand on the just care and love that the government should show us teachers,” said Teacher Ruby Bernardo, ACT NCR Union President. She said their hearts are completely broken at the start of 2024 because the state has repeatedly failed in increasing their salaries and benefits.

Bernardo said that teachers demand ₱50,000 entry-level salary to meet the needs of their respective families. They are also disappointed as their benefits such as Performance-Based Bonus are always delayed and their vacation days are reduced.

“We are also burdened by the worsening learning crisis due to inadequate education funding. We and the children are directly affected by the lack of classrooms, facilities, teachers, teaching and learning equipment, and even education support personnel,” added Bernardo.

Teachers say that the Marcos regime and Sara Duterte, Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, are largely responsible for these failures and deficiencies. Instead of funding and squandering (funds) for the useless charter change, the people’s money should instead be allocated to raising salaries and benefits for teachers, they said.

ACT NCR Union is also currently negotiating with DepEd NCR for their Collective Negotiating Agreement (CNA). The union is demanding for health benefits, school facilities and more in the negotiations. ACT NCR Union is the Sole and Exclusive Negotiating Agent or exclusive representative of teachers throughout the NCR in negotiating for their rights and benefits.

Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro and the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives on February 13 filed the bill that aims to increase the salary of teachers to ₱50,000.