Tell it to SunStar: Protest on Sona day

IT is all-systems-go for mentors under the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) regarding their participation in the United People’s Sona rally on Monday. Our resolve to call for economic relief cannot be dampened by the class cancellation in Quezon City nor the threat of a broader #WalangPasok scenario due to inclement weather. said.

ACT members prepared the center piece for their protest-- 3-dimensional dilapidated school house made from light and recycled materials. It will be carried by teachers and students on their shoulders, bayanihan-style while doubles of President Duterte, DepEd Secretary Briones and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno whip them with “anti-teacher policies.”

The installation aims to symbolize the sorry state of Philippine educational system which is being suffered by the teachers and students due to the neglect of the Duterte government. Teachers also made personalized placards, flip boards and dual-purpose protest umbrellas.

This year’s teachers’ protest takes on a more insistent and militant tone as we are greatly dismayed by Pres. Duterte’s failure to implement substantial salary increase for teachers and other government employees. Worse, new taxes under the TRAIN Law has plunged us deeper in poverty.

ACT estimates some 5,000 teachers and students will march under ACT’s banner on Monday. They shall be carrying calls for salary increase, junking of regressive taxes under the TRAIN Law, full state subsidy for free quality education, regularization of contractual teachers and employees, pull out of military troops in Lumad schools and frustrating Duterte’s charter change.

Pres. Duterte started to be a popular president among teachers due to his promises of change and raising our salaries. Two years after, more and more mentors are questioning his sincerity as we have only seen a change for the worse. Pres. Duterte must review history to see that grave economic crisis, strangling democratic institutions, and maneuvers to perpetuate in power have caused popularity of presidents to plummet and brewed social unrest which have toppled a strongman and a popular president in the past.--Nestor Reyes, ACT Philippines Spokesperson

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