THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers (ACT Philippines) on Monday urged lawmakers to approve a P50,000 entry-level salary for teachers as it launched its month-long National Teachers’ Month campaign during the House deliberations on the proposed 2027 Department of Education (DepEd) budget.

Hundreds of public and private school teachers, education support personnel, and education students gathered at the House of Representatives to lobby for higher salaries, expanded benefits, and increased funding for public education.

ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo said teachers deserve concrete government action rather than symbolic recognition during National Teachers’ Month.

“A P50,000 entry-level salary is an urgent and just demand for teachers who have long been buried in debt, battered by inflation, and burdened by shortages and out-of-pocket expenses,” Bernardo said.

The group also called on Congress to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) for government employees to at least P5,000 and allocate at least six percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to education.

Teachers visited the offices of their respective representatives and members of the education and appropriations committees to seek support and co-authorship of pending measures addressing their demands.

As part of the lobbying action, ACT distributed pencils to lawmakers printed with the teachers’ key proposals, symbolizing the need to translate their demands into legislation and budget allocations.

ACT also challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to match his administration’s commitment to education with increased funding and reforms.

The organization said honoring teachers should be reflected in laws, the national budget, and policies that improve educators’ living and working conditions while addressing the country’s education crisis.