ACT: Newly hired teachers yet to receive 2019 salaries due to delay in budget release

MANILA, Philippines — Due to the delay in the signing of the 2019 budget, teachers have raised their concerns over the hold-up in the release of their salaries this year, Alliance of Concerned Teachers said on Monday.

In a statement, ACT said that 74 teachers from Central Visayas and Caraga hired beyond May 31, 2018 have yet to receive their salaries for January and February 2019.

The teachers’ group said it has received complaints from regular and permanent status teachers from 32 municipalities in Central Visayas and three municipalities in Caraga expressing their worries that they would still not receive their salaries for March due to the delay in the signing of the budget.

Both houses of Congress ratified the 2019 budget on February 8 but have yet to transmit it to the Palace for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

An impasse between the Senate and the House of Representatives is happening as Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said the House leadership had been making last-minute amendments to the measure.

Lacson said that the government might have to continue operating on a re-enacted budget until August.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that he is hoping the Senate and the House could reach an agreement soon.

Delay in salary increase

“The teachers reported that the Department of Education local budget offices said that as the officers are operating on re-enacted budget, salaries of teachers hired beyond May 31, 2018 are not included, while savings of the offices are not enough to cover the cost,” ACT said.

 ACT National Chairperson Joselyn Martinez stressed that the issue is “a matter of survival for teachers and the rest of the Filipino people who are bearing the brunt of the brazen corruption within the Duterte government.”

The budget impasse also delayed the increase for all public workers, ACT added.

ACT called on the departments of Education and Budget and Management to “swiftly remedy the predicament of the teachers.” — Kristine Joy Patag