MEMBERS of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-National Capital Region Union held a rally in front of the Department of Education-National Capital Region office to protest the delayed release of teachers’ benefits.

The teachers danced and sought a dialogue with DepEd officials to air their complaints on the non-payment of their Performance-based Bonus in 2019, Service Recognition Incentive in 2020 and their monthly communication allowance reimbursement.

They also opposed their additional teaching loads.

“Buwan ng mga puso pero hindi man lang maramdaman ng mga guro ang pagmamahal ng DepEd sa amin. Ubos na ang kakarampot na sahod naming mga guro dahil sa mahal ng bilihin at sa mga gastusin sa distance learning pero hanggang ngayon, binabarat pa rin ng DepEd ang aming mga benepisyo,” Vladimer Quetua, ACT NCR Union head, said.

“The government’s tight-lipped response in addressing teachers’ concerns, instead focusing and pouring its resources on its war and red tagging, is an insult to our teachers who have long felt neglected by the state. Teachers have yet to receive the P1,562 salary adjustment for this year, adding to the long list of lies and broken promises made by the government,” the group said.

The group also condemned the memorandum issued by the DepEd NCR regional office dated January 13, 2021 which allows the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to conduct an “orientation” for parents, teachers, and school principals to warn them against the “extent of infiltration and recruitment” on school grounds.

Quatua said that this was a “clear attack” on academic freedom.

“Walang masama sa pagtuturo na maging kritikal ang mga estudyante. Ang paglutas sa krisis sa edukasyon at ang pangangalaga sa kapakanan ng mga guro ang dapat inaatupag ng DepEd at ng gobyerno, hindi ang pag-redtag,” he declared.