THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers reminded President Rodrigo Duterte of his unfulfilled campaign promise to raise the salaries of teachers.

“We were promised doubled salaries but what we get now are doubling prices of goods and overly delayed benefits. How does the government expect our teachers to continue their duties as educators kung sila mismo ay mapuputulan na ng koryente at kumakalam ang kanilang sikmura dahil ubos na ang kakarampot na sahod? Nasaan na ang pangako ng pangulo sa ating mga guro?” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, asked.

After doubling the basic pay of military and uniformed personnel in 2018, Duterte promised anew that teachers will be next.

However, the government implemented the Salary Standardization Law V, which granted teachers an increase of P1,562 in their monthly salaries every year from 2020 to 2022. The basic salary of Teacher I increased from P20,754 in 2019 to P22,316 in 2020.

“Kulang na kulang at walang saysay ang kakarampot na dagdag-suweldo lalo na ngayon na matindi ang krisis at pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Hindi ito ang ipinangako ng pangulo,” Basilio lamented.

The group said that teachers have not received their salary adjustment for this year.

The group’s computation showed that the 2.6 percent inflation in 2020 has eroded P580 off the P1,562 salary increase for 2020. The 4.2 percent inflation in January this year gobbled up another P938 in their salary increase last year.

“Kailangang pag-usapan na kaagad ang salary upgrading ng guro at maipasa ito bago bumaba sa puwesto si Duterte. The teachers’ clamor remain, tuparin ang pangako! Salary increase, now na!” Basilio said.