Teachers' group demands P50,000 entry salary ahead of World Teachers' Day

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines escalated its wage campaign on Sunday, staging a rally outside the presidential palace to demand improved compensation for educators. The protest, held a day before World Teachers' Day, sought to bring attention to longstanding concerns over teacher remuneration and education sector funding.

ACT called on the government to establish a P50,000 entry-level salary for teachers, citing the need to make the profession more competitive and attract qualified individuals to the classroom. The group also pressed for a P5,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), aligning its demands with similar calls being made by other government worker groups.

Beyond salary concerns, ACT urged policymakers to increase overall government spending on education, arguing that sustainable improvements in the sector require adequate budget allocation. The teachers' group framed its demands as essential to improving educational quality and ensuring the profession receives proper recognition and support.

The demonstration reflects ongoing tensions between educators and the government over compensation levels and resource allocation in the school system. Education sector unions have maintained steady pressure on the administration to address what they characterize as years of insufficient wage growth and underfunding.