FIVE teachers of Alternative Learning System in Pasig City called on Mayor Vico Sotto to pay attention to their plights and situation, especially their main concerns on having permanent classrooms and office, gadget availability for e-learning, and wage increase.

Lailanie Cruz, Melody Manieto, Agnes Ledesma and couple Wilfredo and Ruby Cendaña are teachers of the community-based ALS administered by the local government’s Department of Social Welfare and Development.

They are teaching the city’s out-of-school youth and adults who were not able to finish schooling, youth detainees and those who do not attend formal schooling.

The five are currently teaching at Barangays Mangahan, Caniogan, Bambang, Pineda, Sto. Tomas, Sta. Lucia, Buting, Kapasigan, Kalawaan, Pinagbuhatan as well as at the city’s DSWD building. Around 200 students have graduated from alternative education last year.

“Sa kabuuan, mayroon kaming 500 [na] mga mag-aaral sa darating na pasukan, ngunit tulad ng naranasan namin noong mga nakaraang taon, maaari bababa ang bilang ng mga estudyante namin—batay sa aming karanasan, dahil na rin sa ilang bagay na makakaapekto sa kanilang pag-aaral sa paglipas ng panahon,” said Wilfredo.

What Wilfredo was referring to was, first, he said they do not have a permanent classroom wherein sometimes they need to talk to the barangay chairman so they can use some barangay facilities, while others have to squeeze themselves in a small room.

In addition, due to the new technique of teaching for the upcoming school year due to the pandemic, the ALS students and teachers face another challenge on how they will conduct e-learning.

The local government has provided free tablets for public school students and free laptops for senior high school and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig teachers for the opening of classes on 5 October.

“Wala kaming naisasagot sa aming mga estudyante kapag nagtatanong na ang mga ito kung sila ba ay mabibigyan din ng libreng tablet samantalang wala naman daw halos pagkakaiba ang ALS sa regular learners,” said Lailanie.

The teachers also asked the local government to put them in one office under the city hall, since the city government is paying their salaries.

“Hindi naman sa nagrereklamo kami, kaso lang naaapektuhan ang aming pagtuturo dahil kami rin minsan ay gumagawa ng ilang mga bagay na ginagawa lamang ng mga taga-DSWD tulad na lamang ng pagtulong sa mga nasunugan,” said Ruby.

Lastly, they demanded a wage increase, saying that they are just being paid P454 a day — same with the street sweepers and job orders.

“Noong gumagamit pa kami ng chalk, sa sweldo pa namin kukunin ang ipinambibili namin ng chalk, pati pamasahe namin. Nitong nakaraang buwan, binigyan ng hazard pay ang mga casual ngunit ako ay hindi dahil teacher daw ako. Sa totoo lang, pumupunta din naman kami sa mga learning centers namin,” said Agnes.

“Nakikiusap din kami kay Congressman Roman Romulo na mabigyan din sana kami ng sariling gusali, maaaring nakatayo na ito ngayon na hindi lang nagagamit o mailagay kami sa isang maayos na kapaligiran. Hindi nakaka-concentrate ang mga mag-aaral dahil maliban sa mainit, karaniwan ay maingay sa paligid,” said Teacher Melody.