HUNDREDS of public school teachers trooped to the House of Representatives to lobby for salary hike, safe school reopening and doubling of education budget for 2023.

The teachers mounted the action as the country starts its celebration of the National Teachers Month.

The teachers brought flowers, balloons, stuffed toys, fruits and chocolates to woo the support of lawmakers.

For the celebration this year, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers had the theme: “Iangat ang kalagayan ng guro, ibangon ang edukasyon!”

“The state of education is best reflected on the conditions of our teachers as they bear all the problems of the education system. For education to recover from the learning crisis, uplifting the conditions of our teachers is core and essential,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“The situation of our teachers has never been harder than today, with our salaries long left behind by those of other professionals, our workload getting heavier by the day sans additional compensation, and us receiving very scant support from the government for our teaching needs. Our situation of being overworked, underpaid and undersupported is a major roadblock to education recovery,” Quetua added.

He lamented that the salaries of teachers cannot amply support their families.

“Susi sa lahat ng ito ang sapat na pondo sa edukasyon at malinaw at kongkretong plano sa pagbangon ng edukasyon. Hindi sasapat ang karampot na dagdag sa panukalang 2023 badyet ng DepEd para punan ang mga kakulangan sa guro, kawani, klasrum at mga kagamitan. Kapwa lito ang mga guro at mag-aaral kung paano ikokondukta ang mga klase para mahabol ang mga patlang sa pagkatuto dahil sa kawalan ng malinaw at siyentipikong plano,” Quetua said.

“We take advantage of the National Teachers Month, up to the celebration of the World Teachers’ Day on October 5 to assert to the Marcos 2 government our urgent demands. Mr. President, you have promised during your electoral campaign that you will take care of the welfare of teachers and of education,” he added.