THE TEACHERS’ Dignity Coalition called on newly elected officials to pay attention to the issues surrounding the Government Service Insurance System.

Benjo Basas, the group’s chairperson, said that teachers should have a representation in the GSIS board.

Basas said that the group intends to discuss the matter  with the Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, the next Education secretary.

“Initially we will ask Congress to amend the GSIS Law and make the representation of classroom teachers integral to the GSIS Board,” he said.

“The DepEd’s rank-and-file teachers and employees comprise more than half of GSIS membership, yet we were not entitled even for one seat on its board,” Basas lamented.

He said that under the GSIS Law, the DepEd may be represented alternately by either the head of the Philippine Public School Teachers Association or the Philippine Association of Schools Superintendents.

The TDC also sought the abolition of unfair GSIS policies and the expansion of benefits like the affordable housing program and the lowering of retirement age of government employees, among others.

The group said that teachers might set up their own insurance system just like the military if the teachers appeal for reforms in the GSIS is ignored.