📷Ruby Bernardo, ACT-NCR Union President
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-NCR Union strongly condemns Senator Chiz Escudero’s recent insensitive remarks that have caused distress and anxiety among school principals, viewing it as a dangerous precedent for the government’s rightsizing program.
“Senator Escudero’s statement is not only offensive but also reveals the discriminatory nature of the government’s rightsizing framework,” said Ruby Bernardo, ACT-NCR Union President. “Ang ganitong klaseng pahayag ay nagpapakita ng mapanganib na programa ng gobyerno na basta na lang tatanggalin ang mga manggagawa sa ngalan ng tinatawag nilang efficiency.”
Bernardo emphasized how the rightsizing program undermines workers by arbitrarily categorizing positions as non-essential. “They’re planning to overload some workers with additional tasks just to justify removing others from their positions. Sa gitna ng matinding krisis pangkabuhayan, lalalalain pa ng gobyerno ang kawalan ng trabaho at regular na empleo. Ang kailangan ng sektor ng edukasyon ay dagdag na teaching and anon-teaching personnel at pagtataas ng sahod”
The union leader also pointed out the hypocrisy in the government’s austerity measures. “While they claim to cut costs through rightsizing, we see rampant wastage and corruption in Marcos Jr.’s 2025 budget proposal that’s riddled with pork barrel funds. This exposes the true nature of their so-called cost-cutting measures – they save money by sacrificing workers while maintaining their corrupt practices.”
ACT-NCR Union calls on education stakeholders and the public to oppose this anti-worker rightsizing program that threatens job security and quality public service delivery.#
