‘Barat, makunat’: Teachers decry salary increase in Marcos’ EO for gov’t workers

Teachers on Monday, Aug. 5, expressed their criticism of President Marcos' administration as dissatisfaction continues to grow within the teaching sector over the "inadequate" salary increases announced by the government.

The new Salary Standardization Law (SSL), as outlined in Executive Order No. 64, has been met with frustration and disillusionment for failing to address the rising cost of living and the financial challenges teachers face.

‘Dishearteningly stingy’

Issuing a statement, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines criticized the administration's measure, which outlines a four-tranche salary increase scheme for government workers, describing it as “long overdue, grossly insufficient, and dishearteningly stingy.”

“It is appalling that the government touts its commitment to just and equitable compensation for government workers and demands increased productivity and higher quality of public service, while once again delivering far too little and too late to teachers and government employees, all while economic conditions worsen,” said ACT National Capital Region (NCR) Union President Ruby Bernardo.

Bernardo also called President Marcos “barat” and “makunat” — both terms can be translated as stingy in English — lamenting how the EO is a “far cry from our demands for substantial salary increases.”

According to ACT’s computations, the annual raise over four years amounts to a meager P50 increase in the daily wage of 90 percent of teachers, with expected increased deductions for mandatory contributions and taxes further “eroding” its value.

Moreover, ACT pointed out that SG1 employees are set to receive only a “pitiful P20 increase” over the same period, while the president's minimum monthly salary, currently at P419,000, will soar to nearly P460,000 by the fourth tranche.

ACT underscored that these “paltry raises are nothing more than crumbs, failing miserably to address the ever-widening gap between the cost of living and the meager wages that the majority of the civilian workforce is forced to survive on, and exacerbating salary distortion in government service.”

The group reiterated its calls for substantial salary increases, including P50,000 entry-level pay for teachers, P33,000 for SG1 employees, and SG16 for Instructor 1.

“Teachers, alongside other government employees and workers, will assert our rights for decent and living wages and call on the legislature to urgently enact laws and increase the budget for these measures,” Bernardo said.

Minimal increase

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement issued Aug. 4, said while it is “appreciative” of any salary increases, the new SSL VI, signed recently by President Marcos as EO 64, offers a “minimal increase over its predecessor.”

“We acknowledge the efforts of the DBM [Department of Budget and Management] to immediately extend the SSL, and we would be grateful for any salary increase because it signifies the government's recognition that they are not paying us enough,” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.

“We actively coordinated with various government agencies to realize the salary increase, but we believe that government employees deserve more than crumbs,” said Basas, a Caloocan City teacher.

The government, led by the DBM, has worked on SSL VI for over two years.

However, TDC lamented that despite the lengthy process, the outcome has shown “only slight differences” compared to SSL V (RA 11466) under President Duterte.

Basas pointed out that the salary increase under SSL VI is almost identical to the previous law.

"For instance, under Duterte's SSL V, the increase over four years for an entry-level Teacher I amounts to a total of P6,246,” Basas said. “Under Marcos' SSL VI, it is P6,388, a P142 difference,” he added.

He further explained that the first tranche of the new law provides an increase of only P1,512 for the lowest positions in government, Salary Grade 11 (SG 11), which includes teachers.

TDC also pointed out that the continuous rise in the prices of goods and services has already surpassed this minimal increase, retroactive to January 2024.

“Therefore, our salary can no longer keep up,” Basas said. “This amount seems insignificant compared to the surge in daily expenses,” he added.

Basas also highlighted the plight of government employees in salary grades 10 and below, who receive “even lower increases.”

Given this, TDC accused the government of “exploiting” its workers, who ensure the continuous daily operation of government services.

“This is how the government treats its own workers — this is exploitation,” he added.

Like ACT, the TDC supported government employees in their fight for fair wages and benefits.

The group also lobbied for a salary scheme for teachers separate from the SSL, emphasizing the "uniqueness" of their responsibilities and contributions to society.

“It is only fitting that teachers advocate for an equitable pay system that is distinct from the SSL,” TDC said.

“Teachers make a distinctive contribution to society; therefore, it is appropriate to offer them sufficient compensation that not only meets their needs but also acknowledges their dignity and significance,” the group added.