BAGUIO CITY — Public school educators in the Cordillera region have joined nationwide calls urging the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address long-standing issues in the education sector, citing unfulfilled promises, low compensation, and severe resource shortages.

Joel Capulong, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Union Cordillera, said the plight of educators in the region reflects the broader crisis facing public schools nationwide. He called on the national government to account for its failure to deliver on key commitments made to teachers and students.

At the national level, the union is demanding a base salary of P50,000 for entry-level teachers and an increase in the monthly Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) to P5,000. To support these changes and improve learning conditions, the group is also advocating for an annual education budget equivalent to at least 6% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Capulong pointed to major gaps in basic infrastructure and personnel nationwide, including a shortage of 165,000 classrooms and 150,000 teaching positions. He said the government must also hire more guidance counselors and administrative support staff to reduce the non-teaching workload currently assigned to teachers.

In the Cordillera region, Capulong said public schools face the same unresolved shortages experienced across the country. He added that systemic neglect of the education sector has created difficult working conditions, leaving teachers overburdened and vulnerable to administrative abuse by some school heads.

The union reiterated that meaningful education reform cannot be achieved until the government provides sufficient funding to address classroom shortages, hire the necessary personnel, and protect the welfare of educators.