DepEd urged to 'be sensitive' to plight of students, teachers during transport strike
A group on Friday, March 3, urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to be “more considerate” of the plight of both teachers and learners as well as drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) during the transport strike set next week.

“DepEd's categorical announcement that there will be no suspension of physical classes due to the weeklong transport strike next week proves its insensitivity and obliviousness to the daily hurdles that students and teachers face in order to come to schools,” the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines said in a statement.
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DepEd, ACT added, should be “sensitive to plight of commuting educators and students as well as jeepney drivers.”
The group pointed out that public commuting has been “extra difficult” since the resumption of 100 percent face-to-face classes due to fewer public utility vehicles and higher fare rates.
“Nonetheless, we endure these with our dedication to the objectives of education. The already difficult public commute will surely be amplified and unbearable with the scheduled transport strike,” ACT said.
For ACT, DepEd's “inflexible stance” does not make sense amid the suspension of physical classes by many higher education institutions (HEIs).
“If college students are expected to have a hard time coming to school on the days of the transport strike, what more for our much younger pupils?” ACT asked.
Related to this, ACT urged the DepEd Central Office should allow its regional and division offices to “cancel classes in areas where public transportation is affected by the strike.”
Meanwhile, teachers under ACT also expressed support to the PUV drivers and operators in their fight for their livelihood.
“They are our partners in our daily struggles to do our jobs and earn a living,” ACT said.
“We feel them and we support their demand for a pro-people modernization of public transportation,” the group added.