Over a year since the implementation of distance learning, a teachers' group on Tuesday, June 1, appealed anew for better pay and benefits for teachers.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) held a motorcade and noise barrage at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to "wake the government up from its year-long slumber."

ACT Secretary-General Raymond Basilio urged the national government to respond to the urgent needs of distance learning and education workers' "overdue pay and hike and benefits."

"Isang taon nang inaabonohan ng mga guro ang pangangailangan ng distance learning mula sa kakarampot nilang sahod, at isang taon na ring isisusugal ang kanilang mga kaligtasan sa kawalan ng proteksyon habang pinagtatrabaho sa gitna ng pandemya (For a year now, teachers have been using their own money from their meager salaries just to meet the needs of distance learning, and for a year now they have been gambling their own safety in the absence of protection while working in the middle of a pandemic)," Basilio underscored.

"One year worth of arduous work without ample government support, while our salaries are measly and benefits are delayed. Ngayon pinakadama ang kakulangan ng mga sweldo ng mga guro, na sa kasamang pinabayaan na rin ni Pang. Duterte sa hindi nya pagtupad sa kanyang pangako (Teachers have been suffering from low wages, which President Duterte has neglected when he didn't keep his promise)," he added.

Despite the economic hardships and health risks imposed by the pandemic, teachers were made to report to schools, produce and deliver modules, and conduct home visits without ample health and safety protocols and medical benefits, according to Basilio.

Basilio slammed the government's failure to allot sufficient education funding in the Bayanihan 2 Law and 2021 budget. He added that the government's promise of laptops, internet, and load allowance also "remain unfulfilled."

Teachers have been clamoring for the grant of a P1,500 monthly internet allowance, overtime pay, and a "genuine academic ease and workload for teachers."

"Teachers have not yet received their Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) 2019, while the majority have yet to receive their communication expenses reimbursement for 2020," he added.

In May, the Department of Education (DepED) maintained that the funds for the 2019 PBB of the eligible employees will be released in the regional offices of the agency.

DepEd said that DBM will directly release the PBB funds to the DepEd regional offices, then will be released to the school division office, and to their "respective personnel eligible for the grant of PBB."