THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers urged the government to adopt measures that will lower oil prices and address inflation amid the conflict in Ukraine.

“The government must at once scrap or at least suspend the huge taxes on oil products, such as the excise tax and value added tax. The Oil Deregulation Law must also be repealed as the government should have the power and responsibility to regulate oil prices in the country to protect its citizens from overpricing and from oil cartels,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

ACT reiterated its appeal on Tuesday during activities to mark International Women’s Day.

Oil companies imposed a record price increase on Tuesday because of the impact of the war in Ukraine.

“Teachers and their families are gravely suffering from the relentlessly rising costs of fuel that cause spikes in the costs of all other goods and services. We’re barely making ends meet as it is, especially with the lack of aid for low-earners like us and support for education institutions who continue to reel from the costly demands of distance learning,” Basilio said.

The group reiterated the urgency of raising the standards of living of education workers through better pay, benefits, and other welfare protection.

“Now more than ever, our call for bigger pay should finally be addressed by the government. Not only will it allow us to cope with the consistently rising costs of living and of teaching, but it will give education frontliners overdue recognition and support from the government. As such, we welcome the announcement of support for such call from the Leni-Kiko camp as well as from a number of Senatorial candidates such as Neri Colmenares and Elmer Labog. We hope other electoral aspirants will champion the interests of the entire education sector,” Basilio said.