ACT Party-list reiterates call
FOR TEACHERS’ LIVABLE SALARIES
LINGAYEN—The Alliance of Concern Teachers (ACT) Party list reiterated its call to the government to increase the salary of teachers following the shooting incident in the Pangasinan National High School (PNHS) last September 1 allegedly triggered by unpaid loans by the teachers.
The group led by France Castro, secretary general of ACT, visited the scene of the crime and held a meeting with the teachers of PNHS.
“We condemn this crime and this should not happen in a school which should be a sanctuary of knowledge and peace”, said Castro as she conveyed the group’s condolences to the family of the victims.
Castro restated the party-list’s commitment to seek an increase in the salaries of the teachers.
“These teachers (victims) loaned because their salaries were not enough to compensate their daily needs knowing that prices of commodities go up and tuition fees as well while the salaries remained meager”, said Castro.
She said that the last increase in their salaries was effected last 2009 described how a teacher’s P18, 546 monthly salary eventually leaves only P5, 000 for the upkeep of the teacher’s family.
Castro also criticized DepEd’s policy in securing schools.
“The guards or watchmen used to be regular employees of DepEd, however, they are now on contractual basis under the new policy, ” said Castro.
Her concern is that the hiring of security guards or watchmen in schools now depends on the availability of the schools’ funds.
“If the schools do not have funds to pay their security then they will not have a security guard which posts risks to them and their students”, said Castro.
She said the PNHS incident this should serve as an eye-opener to the government on the real situation of the teachers. (Hilda M. Austria)
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