Instead of “profiling” its members, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Sunday, June 25, urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to shift its attention to overcoming the crisis in learning and education, in general.
(Photo courtesy of ACT Philippines)
“We demand the Department of Education to end attacks on teachers and focus on overcoming education and learning crisis,” ACT said in a statement.
ACT also condemned the DepEd for its “continuous profiling operations” against the unions and their members.
“This is a clear violation against the right to freedom of association, freedom of expression and the right to privacy,” ACT said. “This adds up to the long list of cases of violations already submitted to the International Labor Organization,” it added.
On June 14, DepEd released a memorandum requesting the list of ACT Union-Affiliated Teachers who are availing Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS).
ACT alleged that this is the third time the group has been “subjected to illegal profiling”: the first one was on December 2018 when an internal memorandum by the Philippine National Police Intelligence Directorate ordering the conduct of profiling ACT members from both private and public schools and followed by internal instruction from DepEd asking for the list of ACT members in 2021.
In a statement issued June 24, DepEd said that the sole purpose of consolidating the list of APDS availees, from various organizations in the regions, is to “centralize, connect, update, and improve” its Human Resource Systems --- including the APDS.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/24/dep-ed-debunks-act-s-profiling-allegations
No need
ACT maintained that its members and regional unions are in adherence to the existing guidelines on the APDS matter as per DepEd order no. 20, s. 2021. Accredited regional unions that have APDS religiously update their members’ status monthly.
“There is no need for DepEd to collect the list of ACT members as it is DepEd which approves and implements the APDS every month,” the group said.
“Such acts and measures seek to stigmatize ACT’s work, repress its advocacies, and restrict civic space from teachers and education workers who are critical of the government,” it added.
When it comes to complaints of wrong deductions of monthly membership dues, ACT said that this can be “simply be resolved by fixing their record mechanisms without compromising the privacy and safety of all other employees.”
While DepEd assured that there was “no effort or intention to purposely target” members of ACT Union, ACT said it has all the reasons to “ring the alarm.”
ACT also expressed concern that there is “no guarantee” that such documents will not be used against ACT and its members.
“This is opening the big possibility of violating ACT’s and its members’ right to association, freedom of expression and protection of privacy,” the group said.
“We urge DepEd to go after abusive loan sharks and lending institutions instead and spare unions and teachers’ organizations,” it added.
ACT also reminded DepEd that it is “duty-bound to uphold and protect teachers’ constitutionally guaranteed rights” and fulfill the country’s commitment to implement ILO Convention 87 (Freedom of Association).
DepEd, ACT said, must cease “attacking and endangering” the lives of its constituents and focus on addressing problems in education such as the learning crisis and “delayed” benefits for teachers, among others.