Public school teachers trooped to the Department of Budget and Management to protest the alleged betrayal of government of their welfare.

They cited the unfulfilled promise of President Rodrigo Duterte to raise the salaries of teachers.

“Sinisingil namin ang taksil na gobyernong Duterte sa kanyang bigong pangako at napakahabang listahan ng utang sa mga guro. Pasumpa-sumpa pa siya sa ngalan ng kanyang gurong ina, pero ibayong hirap lang ang dinanas ng mga guro sa ilalim ng termino ni Duterte,” Louie Zabala, Alliance of Concerned Teachers-National Capital Region Union executive vice president, said.

The protesters depicted the President’s “desertion” of his promises by setting up ‘#TaksilSaPangako Duterte Pantry for Teachers’ that showcased nothing but empty containers.

“While the laudable community pantries showed how those with so little can give so much, the Duterte government which holds the resources has given nothing but empty promises to teachers who reel with the grave economic impacts of the pandemic, the crisis and the failed distance learning,” Zabala said.

He slammed the DBM for “not lifting a finger and proving to be a roadblock” in raising teachers’ salaries and granting them due benefits and allowances.

He shared that the DBM has not released the performance-based bonus for teachers for 2019. It also has not acted on the teachers’ demands for salary hike, internet allowance and overtime pay for the extended school year.

Zabala warned that the group will intensify protests to hold the President accountable and press the legitimate demands of teachers.