By Junex Doronio
CITING THE SACRIFICES RENDERED BY TEACHERS during the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Tuesday reiterated its call to remove the tax from the honoraria that poll workers will be receiving for their service.
At the same time, the ACT said the teachers should be fairly compensated by granting them overtime pay.
“Isipin niyo ang mga teachers natin ay madaling araw pa mula kahapon nasa mga presinto at hanggang ngayon, hindi pa natutulog. Hindi robot at makina ang mga teachers at poll workers natin kaya kailangan ng karagdagang benepisyo. Overtime pay ang hinnihingi natin,” ACT National Capital Region (NCR) president Ruby Bernardo said at a press conference.
On Monday, October 30, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Michael Poa said they have already touched base with Comelec to ensure that the Board of Election Inspectors will get their poll duty honoraria.
However, the ACT strongly opposed the 20% tax deduction that will be applied to the said amounts.
For his part, ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said that teachers who rendered service for the recently concluded BSKE should be given a P10,000 net honoraria.
“Hindi na kasi sasapat ‘yung nare-receive ng mga teachers o mga poll workers in general sa kanyang kompensasyon. Alam naman natin na kahit may extra na pagboboluntaryo na nagbabantay, pero makikita niyo na talagang teacher pa rin ang nagbabantay,” he said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that the chairman and electoral board members for BSKE 2023 will receive P10,000 and P9,000 of honoraria, respectively.
Noticeably, this was an increase from the previous P6,000 and P5,000 granted to them.
But it’s the tax that really burden the teachers.
“‘Wag niyo nang buwisan ang mga teachers dito. Ang panawagan, dagdagan niyo pa nga itong honoraria ng teachers. Dapat minimum. Sa aming pagtatantya, dapat nga doblehin niyo,” Quetua stressed.
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By Vergel Labesig
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers condemned what it called was the systematic and state-sponsored attempt to whitewash the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The group was angered by the exclusion of February 25, the anniversary of the People Power Revolution, from the list of special non-working holidays in 2024 under Presidential Proclamation No. 368.
“The People Power Revolution in 1986, which led to the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was a significant turning point in our nation’s history, marking the victory of democracy and the end of a dark era characterized by human rights abuses, corruption, and censorship,” the group said.
“Nitong nakaraang buwan lang, may inilabas na direktiba ang DepEd sa pag-aalis ng ‘Marcos’ sa ‘Diktaduryang Marcos’ sa Araling Panlipunan sa ikaanim na baitang. Ngayon, inalis naman sa opisyal na listahan ng mga mahahalagang petsa sa kasaysayan na ginugunita bilang holidays ang February 25 kung saan tampok ang naging tagumpay ng pagkakaisa at at pakikibaka ng mamamayang Pilipino na nagpatalsik sa pasista, korap at diktador na rehimeng Marcos Sr., kabilang ang pamilya at mga kroni nito,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
“Malinaw na sistematikong hakbang ito ng kasalukuyang estado na palabnawin ang kasaysayan at kamalayan ng mamamayang Pilipino hinggil sa malagim na yugto ng rehimeng Marcos,” he added.
The group asserted that if Senator Imee Marcos insists that the exclusion of the 1986 People Power Revolution anniversary from the 2024 national holiday list cannot distort the historical facts surrounding the overthrow of their father’s dictatorial rule, she has to be reminded that preserving the truth is of utmost importance.
“We must ensure that the Filipino people and future generations continue to be informed, at the very least through the declaration of holidays. More importantly, our Philippine history curriculum should be reinstated in high school and intensified to underscore the darkest period of authoritarianism and how it was toppled down by the people’s power,” Quetua said.
By Vergel Labesig
THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers condemned former President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement urging his daughter Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to confront ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro on her statement on the use of intelligence funds.
ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said Duterte’s rhetoric is a reaffirmation of his fascist character, which his daughter has perpetuated since taking office, thereby undermining the rule of law and the democratic rights of citizens.
“Evidently, this reaction is tied to the House of Representatives’ decision to remove confidential funds from civilian agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, both of which are headed by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte as a result of widespread criticism and opposition from the Makabayan bloc, other legislators, and the public during the recent budget deliberations,” Quetua said.
ACT said that the real threat to peace and security are “fascists and bloodthirsty tyrants” like Duterte.
“Malinaw na direktang banta ito sa buhay ni Rep. France Castro at ng mga progresibong grupo at indibidwal na naggigiit at ipinaglalaban lamang ang lehitimong panawagan at karapatan ng mga mamamayan,” Quetua said.
“Malinaw rin na ginamit at gagamitin ng estado ang confidential at intelligence funds na isiniksik at ipinipilit ng iba’t ibang ahensya sa kani-kanilang mga pondo para sa pandarahas, panunupil, at pagpaslang ng mga karaniwang Pilipino,” he added.
ACT called on the international community, the International Criminal Court, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy and justice to join them in denouncing state-perpetrated violence.
By Vergel Labesig
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers slammed Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte for saying that people opposed to the use of confidential funds are enemies of the state.
“Napakabaluktot naman talaga ng pag-iisip ng DepEd secretary, paanong naging kalaban ng bayan ang mga ayaw sa anomalya at korupsiyon? Ang totoong kalaban ng bayan ay yaong mga ginagamit at nagtatago sa malabnaw na konsepto ng kapayapaan upang maglustay at gumastos ng sangkatutak na pera ng bayan,” Vladimir Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
“Ang maanomalyang paggamit ng confidential funds at ang mga opisyal na ipinagpipilitan ang kanilang kagustuhan na hindi naman naaayon sa kanilang konstitusyunal na mandato ang mga tunay na kalaban ng kapayapaan,” he added.
The group reiterated that confidential funds should be rechanneled to basic social services such as education. It said that the confidential fund under the budget proposal of DepEd and other agencies amounting to P10.4 billion can build 4,056 or repair 20,280 classrooms. It can also procure 87,038 armchairs or 289,329 laptops for teachers.
It said Duterte should stop asking for confidential funds.
“We remind again and again Secretary Duterte that her job is to lead and resolve the recurring problems of the basic education sector. In her more than a year in the position, not a single centavo was released from the agency’s Quick Reaction Fund which is intended for the immediate repair of classrooms and facilities damaged by typhoons,” Quetua said.
By Vergel Labesig
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers hit Education Secretary Sara Duterte for “abdicating” her responsibility to lead and protect the education system.
The group lambasted Duterte over her statement that she will not take part in the final decision on the proposal to revise some terminologies in the basic education curriculum pertaining to the Marcos dictatorship.
“It is deeply unsettling that the Education Secretary has chosen to distance herself from this pivotal decision, especially when it concerns the revision of terminologies related to the Marcos Sr. regime, a period marked by human rights violations, corruption, and tyranny,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
“By neglecting her role in this process, VP Sara Duterte is effectively abdicating her responsibility to provide the leadership and guidance necessary to protect the quality and truthfulness of our education system, particularly when it comes to matters as crucial as curriculum revisions. Such revisions hold immense national importance as they directly influence the knowledge and perspectives our students gain about our history and society,” Quetua added.
Although the group acknowledged the need for experts and scholars to make curriculum decisions, he said the Education secretary should “actively participate in these matters considering that the curriculum is one of the fundamental bases of daily teaching.”
“This underscores our concern that her lack of educational background may hinder her ability to effectively oversee the department, potentially leading to misdirection,” Quetua said.
“Mariin din naming kinukundena ang anumang hakbangin na baluktutin at palabnawin ang pag-aaral sa kasaysayan. Nagmumula sa edukasyon ang pagmumulat sa mga kabataan higit lalo pang malagim na yugto ito ng ating kasaysayan. Our educational system should remain a beacon of truth and enlightenment,” he added.
By Vergel Labesig
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers called on the Department of Education to halt the implementation of the MATATAG Curriculum and conduct an open, democratic and genuine consultation with education stakeholders.
The new curriculum was pilot tested in 35 schools beginning Monday, Sept. 25,2023.
The group said the MATATAG curriculum is just a rebranding of the Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum.
“The benchmarking of the 21st century skills development to produce graduates is aligned to the demands of foreign entities. This runs counter to our need to produce graduates that should be inclined to the constitutional mandate of education to establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society,” Vladimir Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
The group raised concerns that the premature implementation of the re-branded K to 12 curriculum is another experimental educational scheme making youth guinea pigs.
“Just like in the implementation of K-12 in 2012, it is disheartening that after more than a decade, the DepEd would tell the public that an implemented curriculum is problematic,” Quetua said.
ACT maintained that the worsening education crisis stems from the government’s failure to significantly overhaul the curriculum, address education shortages, capacitate and empower teachers, and conduct an evidence-based nationwide learning assessment to determine the extent of learning loss.
“It is necessary to democratically and genuinely draft a relevant and responsive curriculum that will produce graduates who will contribute to nation building– a nation that addresses the needs of the Filipino people for food security, development of small and medium enterprises, utilization of science and technology for agricultural development and establishment of basic national industries for the common people and not for the profit-generating capitalist entities,” Quetua said.
By Vergel Labesig
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers pinned the blame on the drop in enrollment on the Department of Education.
“We have to remember that it is the governments’ duty to send its youth to school and give utmost priority thereof. But it is so disgusting that the government seem not to do so. In fact, yearly average in education budget in the past 5 years is only 3.5 percent of the GDP which is too far from the 6 percent global standard,” Vladimir Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
“This negligence is directly affecting the students and the teachers. A Filipino learner this year has only P23,552 per capita budget or P107 daily allocation from the government,” Quetua added.
He said DepEd should be held accountable for the two million drop in enrollment.
“Matagal na nating sinasabi na hindi sapat ang budget sa edukasyon na nilalaan ng gobyerno para sa pagpapa-aral sa kanyang kabataan. Naipapasa itong responsibilidad na ito sa mga magulang na kakarampot lamang ang sahod, kulang panga sa pangkain. Magtataka pa ba tayo na marami ang pipiliing magtrabaho na lamang at hindi na mag-enrol?” Quetua said.
The group called on Education Secretary Sara Duterte not to demonize protesting, which it said is one of the democratic rights of Filipinos.
“Saklaw ng Departamento na siguraduhin at tiyakin na walang estudyanteng maiiwan. Bakit napaka-allergic ni Sara Duterte sa mga tanong? Walang masama sa pagrerehistro ng karapatan. In fact, kaya tayo tumutungo sa lansangan para maitambol ang mga panawagan para sa edukasyon, guro, at mag-aaral. Itong paninisi ni Sara Duterte ay baseless. Panay turo na lang at sisi sa mga kritiko samantalang walang ginagawa para alamin ang mga rason bakit bumababa ang mga nage-enroll,” Quetua said.
By Vergel Labesig
THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers denounced the government’s move through the Department of Education to distort history and undermine the historical truth about Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship.
The group criticized the directive of the Department of Education’s Curriculum and Teaching Management Committee to its Bureau of Curriculum Development to change “Diktadurang Marcos” to “Diktadura” found in the Quarter 3 of 2023 MATATAG Grade 6 Araling Panlipunan Curriculum
“The alteration of historical terminology is not only distortion but also undermines the truth about one of the darkest periods in Philippine history. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled the Philippines with an iron fist, suspending civil liberties, suppressing dissent, and committing numerous human rights violations during his regime,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
“To reduce his oppressive rule to a mere “Diktadura” is a disservice to the countless victims of his dictatorship and an affront to the pursuit of historical accuracy and truth,” he added.
“DepEd bears a solemn responsibility to provide students with an accurate and comprehensive understanding of their country’s history. By attempting to sanitize and whitewash the term “Diktadurang Marcos,” it is failing in its duty to promote critical thinking and historical consciousness among Filipino youth,” Quetua said.
The group called on DepEd to immediately retract this directive and ensure that the Grade 6 Araling Panlipunan Curriculum accurately reflects the historical truths of the Marcos dictatorship.
By Vergel Labesig
THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers expressed deep dismay and concern over the Department of Education’s justification for its request for confidential funds saying its focus on issues beyond its primary mandate only undermines the urgent and pressing needs of the education system.
The group issued the statement after DepEd claimed that 16 public high schools in the National Capital Region are sites for New People’s Army’s recruitment.
“We find DepEd’s rationale for seeking confidential funds feeble and questionable. The shortages are enormous, and these are the real issues plaguing our education system. It is absurd that DepEd Sec. Sara Duterte asserts that education is intertwined with national security while she fails to see that poor learners’ performance is directly interrelated with the classroom and other education shortages,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.
“Nasa 150,000 dagdag na classrooms ang kailangan para tugunan ang kakulangan habang nasa 13 million armchairs ang kulang para sa bilang ng enrollees ngayong taong panuruan. Kung tunay na nagmamalasakit ang DepEd sa seguridad ng mga mag-aaral, dapat binibigyan nito ng sapat na classrooms at learning materials. Patunay ang bumulaga sa aming lagay ng classrooms nitong class opening na hinati na sa gitna, nasa higit 50 pa ang mag-aaral sa isang klase,” Quetua added.
ACT reiterated its call for confidential funds to be rechanneled to resolve the learning crisis and address enormous shortages in classroom, teachers, education support personnel, and teaching and learning resources.
“Hindi kailangan ng DepEd ng pondo para sa confidential funds. Hindi trabaho ng ahensya ang national security. Hindi malulutas ng confidential funds ang lawak at lalim ng learning crisis. Malinaw na mas prayoridad ni VP Sara Duterte ang mag-function bilang NTF-ELCAC Vice Chair kaysa bilang DepEd Secretary,” Quetua said.