A group of teachers on Thursday, November 13, criticized the administration of President Marcos for its continued inaction on alleged corruption in public infrastructure projects, even as thousands of typhoon-hit schools across the Philippines remain damaged by recent disasters.

Citing data from the Department of Education (DepEd) and disaster response agencies, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said in a statement that successive calamities—including Super Typhoon Uwan, Typhoon Tino, Typhoon Opong, and the earthquakes in Davao Oriental and Cebu—have destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of classrooms, affecting over one million learners and tens of thousands of teachers and school personnel.

“Habang nagdurusa ang mga guro at mag-aaral sa mga sira-sirang silid-aralan, nananatiling malaya ang mga tiwaling opisyal na nagbulsa ng pondong para sana sa ligtas at maayos na paaralan (While teachers and students suffer in dilapidated classrooms, corrupt officials who pocketed funds meant for safe and decent schools remain free),” said ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo.

“Mahigit isang daang araw matapos mangako si Marcos na papanagutin ang mga tiwali, wala ni isang nakulong. Pero ang mga mamamayang lumalaban sa korapsyon—sila ang mabilis na dinadampot (More than a hundred days since Marcos vowed to hold the corrupt accountable, not one has been jailed. Yet those who fight corruption—ordinary citizens—are the ones swiftly arrested),” she added.

ACT detailed the destruction across multiple regions:

Typhoon Uwan (November 2025): 1,986 classrooms destroyed, 15,889 damaged, and 2,979 schools forced to suspend operations, affecting nearly one million learners and almost 47,000 personnel.

Typhoon Tino (November 2025): 391 classrooms destroyed and 2,962 damaged across 577 schools.

Davao Oriental Earthquake (October 2025): P2.26 billion in damage to school infrastructure.

Cebu Earthquake (September 2025): P1.67 billion in damages across 3,605 schools.

Typhoon Opong (September 2025): P4.7 billion in education losses, displacing 60,000 students and 3,000 teachers.

Bernardo said the disasters exposed the problem of substandard and “ghost” infrastructure projects, including classrooms that collapse under moderate storms, flood control systems that fail, and unfinished school buildings despite full funding releases.

“These projects are proof of a governance system that has turned education infrastructure into a lucrative business for contractors and politicians alike,” the group said.

The teachers’ group renewed its call for doubling the national education budget to rebuild classrooms, raise teachers’ salaries, and provide sufficient learning materials.

ACT also urged the government to reallocate confidential and discretionary funds toward education recovery and anti-corruption measures.

“Kung hindi mananagot ang mga tiwali, mananatiling negosyo ang pamahalaan at kalbaryo ang edukasyon (If the corrupt are not held accountable, government will remain a business—and education, a crucifixion),” Bernardo said.

ACT announced it will mobilize thousands of teachers nationwide in a sit-down strike on November 28 to demand accountability and urgent government action.