THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers again deplored President Rodrigo Duterte’s failure to fulfill his campaign promise of doubling teachers’ salaries.

The group made the comment after the government’s recent statement that teachers’ salaries increased under the Duterte administration.

ACT said that Duterte’s “betrayal” left teachers as one of the lowest paid professionals in the country, receiving only P23,877 monthly, while uniformed personnel receive a minimum of P30,000 and nurses P35,000.

“Duterte has no right to claim victory over teachers’ salaries increase under Salary Standardization Law V, especially when SSL V is deceptive and doesn’t provide teachers substantial salaries increase. He promised teachers of doubling their salaries during his presidential campaign, at sa loob ng higit limang taon niyang nakaupo sa puwesto ay hindi niya ito tinupad,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

Basilio explained that paltry pay hike for teachers under the Duterte regime was hardly felt because of bigger teacher expenses and deductions.

Teacher I received a monthly increase of P1,561 in 2021, but tax deductions and mandatory contributions amount to P2,759. Teacher II and III who receive P1,557 and P1,522 monthly increases are deducted P3,384 and P4,022 respectively for tax and mandatory contributions.

With the increasing tax deductions, mandatory contributions, inflation of basic goods, and costly expenses of distance learning, teachers could barely afford the minimum cost of living, which is at P25,091 this July based on the computations of Ibon Foundation.

“Idagdag pa natin ang sariling gastos ng ating mga teachers sa distance learning ngayong pandemya – nandiyan ang P1,500 para sa internet connection, cellphone load para sa data at communication, dagdag sa koryente at tubig, pati na rin ang pinambili ng kani-kanilang mga laptop at iba pang kagamitan para sa pag-print ng mga modules,” Basilio said.