đź“· Former ACT Teachers Partylist Congressman and now first nominee Antonio Tinio
Former ACT Teachers Partylist Congressman and now first nominee Antonio Tinio, in solidarity with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), calls for urgent accountability amidst alarming reports of corruption within the Department of Education (DepEd), allegedly linked to Vice President and former Education Secretary Sara Duterte. These reports, involving cash envelopes received by DepEd executives, highlight the urgent need to address corruption while our educators continue to face severe neglect.
“These allegations are deeply troubling and cannot be ignored. We demand a full investigation into these corruption anomalies and insist on holding Vice President Duterte accountable if implicated,” stated ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua.
As educators celebrated World Teachers’ Day, the lack of meaningful support and recognition from the government, particularly from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was glaring. Despite their indispensable role, teachers remain overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. The silence from the administration on these pressing issues is a stark reflection of its disregard for the plight of educators.
“Our teachers are the backbone of our nation’s future. They deserve respect, adequate compensation, and sufficient resources to perform their duties effectively,” Tinio emphasized. “The government’s neglect and the unresolved corruption within DepEd undermine the integrity of our education system.”
ACT and hundreds of faculty club organizations demand that the government prioritizes comprehensive reforms, including substantial salary increases, workload reduction, and enhanced support systems for teachers. These steps are essential to uphold the dignity of the teaching profession and enrich the quality of education for Filipino students.
“We call on President Marcos Jr. to speak out and take decisive action. Empty promises are not enough; we need concrete measures to uplift our educators and restore public trust in our educational institutions,” Quetua added.
ACT remains committed to the struggle for educators’ rights and the fight against corruption. We will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, and the rightful allocation of resources to the education sector, ensuring it receives the attention and support it deserves.#
