THE PURCHASING power of the entry-level salary of public school teachers had considerably plunged, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said.

The eroded amount accounts to 15 percent of the current basic pay of Teacher I, which now has a real value of P21,576.76. The computations are based on the depreciation of the purchasing power of 1 peso, now only worth 85 centavos compared to its value in 2018. Public school teachers occupying Teacher I positions form 52 percent of all public school teachers nationwide.

“From 2018 to 2022, the Teacher I position received a total of P5,292 increase in their monthly salaries through the pay adjustments of the Salary Standardization Law IV and V. But with the soaring inflation, the real value of this salary increase is reduced by 73 percent or P3,862. Sa madaling salita, mula 2018 hanggang ngayon ay P1,397.76 lamang ang tunay na natamasang umento ng Teacher I sa kanilang buwanang sweldo, o P25 kada araw,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“Sa totoo lang, mas mababa pa ang aktwal na nagagamit ng guro para sa pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya dahil umaabot ng P3,820 ang buwanang kaltas sa sweldo para sa income tax at mandatory contributions. Further, as majority of our teachers are deep in loans, many only receive a monthly net take home pay of P5,000 after loan payment deductions. Talagang kasama ng malawak na bilang ng mamamayan, gutom rin ang inaabot ng pamilya ng ating mga guro,” Quetua explained.

Ibon Foundation’s computation of family living wage based on government data now amounts to P1,119 daily or about P33,000 a month.

“None of the 92 percent of public school teachers, who occupy Teacher I, II and III positions, receive salaries of that level. The minimum wage in the private and public sector should approximate these amounts to allow our people to meet their basic needs. The salary level of Teacher I in public schools should be upgraded from the current salary grade 11 to salary grade 15 so that they can have a gross pay of around P35,000 per month,” Quetua said.

“Hindi na maaari ang pagdadahilan na walang magagawa ang gobyerno dahil pandaigdigan ang krisis. What are they in power for if they cannot manage the economy and safeguard the welfare of the people? It is well within the government’s powers to effect wage hikes and bring down the prices of commodities through the removal of onerous taxes on essential goods,” he added.