THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers called on Congress to give priority to measures that seek to increase teachers’ salaries and the operating budgets of schools.

“Nagtaasan na ang lahat ng bilihin at tataas pa muli ang mga ito sa susunod na mga araw, pero ‘di pa rin tumataas ang sahod ng mga guro. Nasa 6.1 percent na ang inflation, mahigit P30 kada litro na ang itinaas ng diesel, gasolina at kerosine mula Enero, at bagsak ang halaga ng piso. Ganito na kalala ang ekonomiya ng bansa, panahon na para itama ang distorsyon sa pasweldo ng pamahalaan kungsaan napag-iwanan na ng ibang propesyunal ang sahod ng mga guro,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“Nabudol na kami ng pamahalaang Duterte, sana naman ngayon ay pakingggan kami ng bagong administrasyon hinggil sa hirap na dinadanas ng mga guro at ang pangangailangang ng makabuluhang pagtaas sa kanilang sahod,” he added.

Quetua lamented that the low salaries of teachers are not commensurate to their needs and the indispensable role they play in delivering education to millions of youth.

“Our teachers’ economic hardships stem from the very basic problem of low salaries. They even have to take on odd jobs just to make ends meet and feed their families,” he said.

The group also sought the doubling of the school maintenance and operating budget.

“We also push for an increase of the education budget to the United Nations-prescribed allocation of at least 6 percent of our country’s gross domestic product to improve the quality of our learners’ education,” Quetua said.

“We are calling on Congress and its incoming leadership to fast track House Bill 203 to increase the salaries of teachers and House Bill 1783 to increase the budget for education to at least 6 percent of our GDP.”