The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines said the newly approved P85 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila is insufficient to address the worsening economic conditions faced by workers, including public school teachers.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for the National Capital Region on Tuesday approved an P85 daily minimum wage.

"The P85 increase remains grossly inadequate against the relentless rise in the prices of food, transportation, housing, utilities, fuel, and other basic necessities," ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said in a statement.

"Workers deserve living wages—not piecemeal adjustments that are immediately wiped out by inflation," it added.

ACT said public school teachers continue to suffer from the same erosion of purchasing power experienced by other workers while carrying the additional burden of sustaining what it described as an underfunded public education system.

The group said many teachers continue to spend their own money on classroom materials while handling overcrowded classes, excessive paperwork and responsibilities beyond teaching.

"Four years later, teachers remain overworked, underpaid, and forced to shoulder the consequences of government's chronic neglect of the education sector," she said.

ACT acknowledged gains such as the increase in the Teaching Supplies Allowance but said these were achieved through sustained lobbying by teachers' organizations rather than government initiative.

The group also pointed to persistent shortages of classrooms, teachers and education support personnel, saying these continue to intensify workloads and undermine the quality of education.

ACT renewed its call for an entry-level salary of P50,000 for public school teachers, a P5,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), a P1,200 national daily minimum wage, the hiring of additional teachers and education support personnel, accelerated classroom construction and greater public investment in education.

The Department of Education has said it is addressing teacher shortages through continued hiring and measures to reduce administrative tasks, while the Marcos administration has cited salary increases, additional benefits and education spending as part of its efforts to improve the welfare of teachers.

Malacañang and the DepEd had yet to respond to ACT's latest statement as of posting.###