THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers denounced what it claimed was the hasty passing by the Senate of the Maharlika Investment Fund bill.

“Wala tayong excess funds para gumawa ng mga ganitong multi-billion investment na prone sa corruption at walang garantiya na kikita, maaari itong maging dahilan ng lalo nating paglubog sa utang,” Vladimir Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“Kahit pa hindi isama ang pension funds naming mga guro, kawani at manggagawa sa publiko at pribadong sektor, pondo pa rin ng mga mamamayan ang gagamitin. Tayo pa rin ang kawawa sa investment fund na walang katiyakan kung saan mapupunta,” he added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave assurances that pension funds will not be used by the MIF.

“However, the funding will still be taken from the country’s coffers. We do not have excess funds to be used for this kind of dubious investment,” Quetua said.

The group asked Congress to priotize bills for teachers and education.

“Ang pagpasa ng mga batas para maitaas ang sahod ng mga guro at kawani, sapat na benepisyo, at pagtataas ng budget sa edukasyon ang dapat na pinaglalaanan nila ng oras at pondo. Maraming panukalang batas ang dapat unahin at hindi kasama roon ang MIF,” Quetua said.