Call Grows to Raise Relief Allowance for Teachers and Government Employees

Teachers and government employees are once again calling for an increase in the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) as rising prices continue to strain household budgets across the country.

During yesterday’s Joint Committee hearing on the oil and energy crisis, ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio stressed the urgent need to increase PERA for public school teachers and other government workers. He pointed out that the allowance, which is meant to provide economic relief, has remained unchanged at ₱2,000 since 2009.

For the past 17 years, teachers and government employees have endured repeated economic crises, fuel price hikes, and inflation, yet the amount of PERA has stayed the same. What was intended as a form of assistance has gradually lost its value as the cost of basic goods and services continues to rise.

Rep. Tinio emphasized that the current allowance is no longer enough to meet the daily needs of workers in the public sector. With transportation costs, food prices, and utility expenses increasing, many teachers and government employees are finding it harder to make ends meet.

In response, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) gave its commitment to study the possibility of increasing the PERA. This development has been welcomed by advocates, who see it as an important step toward addressing the financial burdens faced by public workers.

ACT Teachers Party-list said it will continue to push for an increase of PERA to ₱5,000, alongside its broader campaign for a ₱50,000 entry-level salary for teachers. The group maintained that meaningful economic support is necessary to ensure that teachers and government employees can live with dignity amid the continuing rise in the cost of living.

The call to raise PERA reflects a wider demand for better compensation and stronger government support for workers who play a vital role in delivering public services. For many teachers and employees, the issue is no longer just about allowance adjustment, but about economic justice and survival.