Teachers, education workers storm Malacañang with demands ahead of SONA

📷: ACT / FB

Teachers and education workers under the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines staged a lightning protest at the gates of Malacañang on Wednesday, pressing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address what they called years of neglect of the education sector, systemic corruption, and subservience to foreign powers.

ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo said the country has been left with a “binigong Pilipinas” under Marcos Jr., citing low wages, widespread contractualization, inadequate benefits, shortages of teachers and classrooms, and declining education quality.

“Nasaan ang pagpapahalaga kung siksikan at tila pugon ang mga klase, lupaypay sa bigat ng trabaho at baon sa utang ang mga guro, walang sapat na kawani, libro, at pasilidad sa mga eskwela, at binubusalan pa ang mga guro at kawaning nagpapahayag ng tunay na kalagayan,” Bernardo lamented.

The group assailed the administration’s claims of a “historic” education budget, saying it failed to resolve historic shortages and instead enabled “historic plunder” of public funds. ACT also pointed to corruption controversies involving both Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, accusing them of pursuing ill-conceived policies and attacking unions and advocates.

Despite threats of dispersal, protesters reiterated demands for a ₱50,000 entry-level salary for teachers, a ₱5,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) for government employees, allocation of at least 6% of GDP to education, and an end to contractualization.

They urged the public to join the People’s SONA on July 27 to “expose the true state of the nation” and fight for systemic change.# (RRN)