On Teachers’ Day, they still don’t hear what they want to hear from Marcos

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Quezon City has good news for its public school teachers on Monday, October 5, but others are left wishing 'sana all'

Teachers could only say “Sana all (I wish I had the same experience)!” after learning that their peers in Quezon City would have a higher monthly allowance in 2027.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said their city government is set to increase the supplemental allowance for teachers and non-teaching personnel to P2,000 next year, up from the previous P1,500.

Belmonte made the announcement during the 2026 National Teachers’ Day celebration of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, October 5, saying that they recognize the dedication of public school workers.  

The crowd of 10,500 Luzon-based public school teachers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, located in Belmonte’s turf, cheered.  

But what about other teachers all over the Philippines?

In his speech at the same event, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said other mayors may now have to raise allowances for teachers after Belmonte’s announcement.

“Mayayaman naman kayong mga city eh (Your cities are rich),” Marcos quipped.

Just as September ended, the Caloocan City Council approved an increase in the additional augmentation allowance of its teachers and staff to P2,555.56, effective October this year.

But on Monday, even the President might have felt the pressure. “Mayor Joy, kasama ako do’n sa [napasubo], dahil ako kaagad ang nilapitan. ‘Pahingi ng pondo para makapagbigay din kami ng allowance.’” (Mayor Joy, I’m among those who were put on the spot, because some mayors immediately approached me. “Please give us funds so that we can also provide allowance.”)

Not every local government unit provides a separate allowance for their teachers.

“Sana gano’n din ‘yong sa buong Pilipinas…. ‘Yong monthly allowance, napakalaking tulong ‘yon (I hope it’s the same experience across the Philippines. A monthly allowance would be a big help for us),” said Ronald Ventura, a teacher from Batac City, Ilocos Norte. He said their province — the Marcoses’ bailiwick — does not provide the same allowance.

Under the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, the government provides teachers with an annual tax-free teaching allowance of P10,000. The national budget also includes a P1,000 World Teachers’ Day incentive benefit.

Marcos mentioned this incentive in his speech, along with teaching and medical allowances, updates on the over 82,000 teachers and school heads who have been promoted under the Expanded Career Progression System, and the expedited process for the still-unreleased 2024 performance-based bonus.

Missing from the speech?

But some teachers wanted to hear more from the President, such as a higher World Teachers’ Day incentive. Someone also shouted “Sahod!” (wage).

“Parang pahaging lang ‘yong nangyari (It’s like he just dropped indirect hints),” said Noliver Viray, a public school teacher from Valenzuela City.

Viray, who has over two decades of teaching experience, told Rappler that teachers who attended the DepEd event wanted to hear good news. “Wala kasing nailatag kung ano ba ‘yong dapat na benepisyo na mabibigay sa mga teacher, ‘yong mga increase,” he added. (The benefits that teachers truly need, including salary increases, were not outlined.)

The Teachers’ Day celebration highlighted Marcos’ seeming silence on calls for a salary increase for teachers. Even during his recent State of the Nation Address, the topic was left untouched.

“I was hoping he would make a public announcement in front of all the teachers,” Novie Ann Varias, a public school teacher from Cardona, Rizal, said in a mix of Filipino and English.

She believes that there should be a P15,000 across-the-board wage hike, which is the same plea of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition.

In the streets, members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, along with other progressive groups, marched toward Mendiola in Manila on Monday, in a bid to bring close to Malacañang their call for a P50,000 starting salary for teachers.

In his written message, Marcos said the government recognizes the sacrifices of teachers, and reaffirms its “shared responsibility to cherish and uplift those who shape our lives.” For many, however, those words may remain empty unless their requests for higher wages are granted. – Rappler.com