CLAD in black shirts, public school teachers from Bacolod City and neighboring localities trooped to the Fountain of Justice Friday afternoon, July 20, to demand higher pay.

They have been calling President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill his campaign promise of increasing their salaries. But until now, it remains a promise.

The teachers claimed they hold the protest ahead of Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) as they are hoping their concerns will reach the top chief executive and that he will give his answers when he addresses the nation on Monday, July 23.

The group said they are supposed to be inside the classrooms with the school children, but the dire economic situation forced them to go out on the streets to show collective action and be heard.

True enough. The teachers have sacrificed a lot so students can get a quality education, one that is at par with our Asian neighbors.

Currently, the teachers receive P19,000 to P22,000 salary per month. But they have smaller take-home pay due to mandatory deduction and taxes.

Aside from that, the continuing increase in the prices of basic commodities brought by the new tax reform law has affected everyone, including the teachers.

Not to mention, these unsung heroes continue to help students who can’t go to school due to financial constraints.

But still, despite all these, our teachers remain steadfast in their profession of molding the young minds. Padayon.