Teachers Urge ₱15,000 Across-the-Board Salary Increase, Criticizes Government Inaction

A coalition of educators renewed its appeal for a ₱15,000 across-the-board pay increase for public school teachers and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel, arguing that the proposal remains the most practical and urgent response to the mounting financial strain faced by educators.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said the administration’s continued reluctance to implement substantial wage adjustments runs counter to public sentiment, citing recent surveys that show higher pay is among Filipinos’ top priorities for the coming year.

According to TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas, teachers are being pushed to shoulder heavier workloads while grappling with rising prices and deteriorating working conditions, all without corresponding improvements in compensation. “The demand for better wages is clear, but those in power keep turning a blind eye. Educators are expected to do more with less, even as their purchasing power continues to shrink,” he said.

The group reiterated that funding a legislated ₱15,000 salary hike would require around ₱210 billion for full implementation, or roughly ₱84 billion if introduced gradually. TDC maintained that these figures are modest compared to the amounts regularly allotted to projects it considers less urgent.

While welcoming the passage of the ₱1.34-trillion education budget under the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act, the coalition criticized both the government and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) for failing to put teachers’ welfare at the center of education reforms.

Basas noted that discussions on education reform often focus on shortages in classrooms, facilities, and learning resources, as well as issues such as student hunger and mismatched teaching assignments. However, he said these conversations frequently overlook the condition of teachers themselves. “You cannot repair the education system while ignoring the very people who sustain it every day,” he said.

TDC warned that reforms which sidestep concerns over salaries, job security, health benefits, and working conditions are unlikely to succeed. The group stressed that a larger education budget would have little impact if teachers remain underpaid and overburdened.

“If the government is truly committed to improving education and supporting national recovery, it must begin by ensuring that teachers—and workers in general—receive wages that allow them to live with dignity,” Basas said.