THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers called on the Department of Education to suspend the implementation of the twice a month salary scheme, saying it was not discussed with teachers’ accredited unions.

The group sought a dialogue with the agency to air teachers’ concerns about the 15/30 pay scheme and the call for a salary increase.

“None of our accredited and registered unions in 16 regions have been consulted as regards DepEd’s plan to release teachers’ salaries on a twice a month basis, nor have teachers’ representatives been given a chance to be heard. That’s a basic democratic process that the agency should go through before implementing changes to employment-related matters,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

“They by-passed this and now teachers are raising issues with the new policy. Before going any further, we urge DepEd to suspend its implementation and meet us in a dialogue,” he added.

The group said that in some areas, the 15/30 scheme is already being implemented, while in others, the old once a month pay release is still in effect.

Among the concerns raised on the twice a month salary scheme are bigger bank charges owing to twice a month withdrawal, its effect on the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance, its implications on loan deductions, and the added workload to education support personnel who prepare the payrolls.

“To put it simply, the new salary scheme is more trouble than it’s worth. At the end of the day, the real issue is the meager salaries given to public school teachers, which the quincenas pay does nothing to address. Duterte promised to double our salary, not its release. Sobrang panloloko at pangiinsulto ito sa mga guro. Nagsasayang ng oras at lakas ang DepEd sa ganitong mga walang saysay na hakbang, habang patuloy na isinasantabi ang matagal na naming panawagan sa makabuluhang dagdag-sweldo. Kung kinausap nila kami at pinakinggan ang aming mga daing, mas nakasulong pa sana tayo sa mas produktibong mga usapin,” Basilio said.

The group maintained that the department should focus on working with teachers in the upgrading of salaries.

“Heed our call for the upgrading of teachers’ pay from salary grade 11 to grade 15, so we can at least be at par with professionals in other fields who are now getting about P30,000 per month. Making that happen takes a lot of work and conviction, DepEd should focus on that. It should back its personnel’s just fights for better state support, not go behind our backs and implement unhelpful measures,” Basilio said.