Filipino teachers kicked off National Teachers’ Month 2025 on September 3 with a powerful protest --- demanding higher pay and a bigger education budget.

The protest, staged at the House of Representatives, saw members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines urging lawmakers to approve substantial salary increases and a higher education budget as Congress deliberates the Department of Education (DepEd) 2026 allocation.

Carrying salbida (flotation devices), ACT Philippines dramatized their six-point World Teachers’ Day (WTD) demands, symbolizing the urgent need to “save education from sinking deeper into crisis.”

“Habang nilulunod kami ng kakulangan sa guro, kawani, klasrum, at gamit sa pagtuturo, lalo pang inilulubog ng gobyerno ang edukasyon sa maling prayoridad sa pagbabadyet (While we are drowning in shortages of teachers, staff, classrooms, and teaching materials, the government is further sinking education by prioritizing the wrong things in the budget),” said ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua.

He added, “Inuna pa ang bayad-utang at mga proyektong imprastrakturang balon ng korapsyon kaysa sa batayang pangangailangan ng mga paaralan (Debt payments and infrastructure projects riddled with corruption are prioritized over the basic needs of schools).”

Quetua emphasized that current salaries for teachers and education support personnel remain inadequate.

“Nananatiling hindi makatao ang antas ng sahod ng mga guro at kawani (The salary levels of teachers and staff remain inhumane),” he said.

“Matagal na naming hinihingi ang makatarungang pagtaas ng sweldo—sapat para sa disenteng pamumuhay at upang manatiling nakatuon ang guro sa pagtuturo, hindi sa pagtitiis (We have long been calling for a just increase in wages—enough to ensure a decent standard of living and to allow teachers to focus on teaching, not on enduring hardship),” Quetua added.

This year, ACT Philippines is pushing a six-point agenda demanding:

- Substantial salary increases for teachers and education workers

- Doubling of the education budget

- Improved benefits and retirement security

- A nationalist, scientific, mass-oriented curriculum

- Accountability from the Marcos Jr. administration for “corruption and neglect” and

- Protection of teachers’ democratic rights

“Kung seryoso ang pamahalaan na sagipin ang edukasyon, dapat nitong tiyakin na may sapat na klasrum, guro, at gamit panturo sa bawat paaralan (If the government is serious about saving education, it must ensure that every school has enough classrooms, teachers, and teaching materials),” Quetua said.

“Sa gitna ng matinding krisis sa ekonomya na lalong nagpapahirap sa mga guro, mag-aaral, at ordinaryong mamamayan, lalo pang nagiging kagyat ang makatarungang pagtaas ng sweldo at dobleng pondo para sa edukasyon (Amid the severe economic crisis burdening teachers, students, and citizens, a just salary increase and doubling of the education budget have become even more urgent),” he added.

ACT also criticized the proposed 2026 DepEd budget, highlighting long-standing shortages: around 165,000 classrooms; approximately 150,000 teachers; around 144,000 education support personnel; and millions of textbooks and learning materials. 

“Instead of directly addressing these shortages, the bulk of government spending is still funneled toward debt servicing and corruption-ridden infrastructure projects,” ACT said.

ACT vowed to sustain nationwide actions throughout National Teachers’ Month, leading up to World Teachers’ Day on October 5, to keep teachers’ demands for fair compensation and adequate resources at the forefront.

In the Philippines, National Teachers’ Month (NTM) is celebrated annually from September 5 to October 5, culminating in National Teachers’ Day on October 5, which also coincides with World Teachers’ Day.

This observance honors the dedication, service, and impact of Filipino educators in shaping the nation’s future. It highlights the nobility of the teaching profession and fosters a culture of appreciation across all sectors.

The celebration is backed by legal provisions Presidential Proclamation No. 242 (2011) which declares September 5 to October 5 as National Teachers’ Month and Republic Act No. 10743 (2016) which officially designates October 5 as National Teachers’ Day.