Following the “biggest oil price hike” in the country since the implementation of 1998 Oil Deregulation Law, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Tuesday, March 8, reiterated its call for salary increase amid the rising inflation and urged the national government to implement measures that will lower the fuel costs in the Philippines.

“Teachers and their families are gravely suffering from the relentlessly rising costs of fuel that causes spikes in the cost of all other goods and services,” said ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio in a press statement.

To address this problem, the group urged the administration to “suspend the huge taxes on oil products” such as the excise tax and value-added tax (VAT).

“The Oil Deregulation Law must also be repealed as the government should have the power and responsibility to regulate oil prices in the country to protect its citizens from overpricing and from oil cartels,” Basilio reiterated.

Meanwhile, the group continues to fight for its long-desired salary increase, saying that it will raise the living standards of education workers.

“Now more than ever, our call for bigger pay should finally be addressed by the government. Not only will it allow us to cope with the consistently rising costs of living and teaching, but it will give education frontliners overdue recognition and support from the government,” said Basilio.