THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Teachers in Davao Region explained that the P20 contribution to the union is voluntary. This statement follows a request from a group of teachers to stop the salary deduction.
ACT-Teachers Davao Region President Elenito R. Escalante said in a media interview on Saturday afternoon, November 30, 2024, at Freedom Park, Davao City, that it does not make sense to stop the collection when other labor unions deduct higher fees from their members. He explained that even though some people have calculated the amount the union is supposed to receive, this sum is still not enough to sustain the union's activities.
“Gina-awhag nato nga magpa-miyembro ta kay ang atong union mao kini ang tinuod na nagabarog para sa atong katungod, para sa atoang suholan, para sa karapatan ng mga teachers (We encourage everyone to become a member because our union is the one that truly fights for our rights, for our salaries, and for the rights of teachers),” he said.
Escalante added that the P20 union fee is used for the operations of the union, such as campaigning, through which they secured the clothing allowance for teachers. He also mentioned that the group is currently pushing for a P50,000 entry-level salary for teachers, which requires more funding to support their efforts.
He clarified that the P20 is a monthly fee, but noted, "It would be great if all teachers contribute P20." He explained that the Department of Education (DepEd) automatically deducts the fee from the salaries of member teachers and remits it to the union. However, the amount they receive is still small, as they have not reached all teachers in the 11 divisions of the region.
ACT-Teachers Davao Region further explained that not all teachers pay the P20 union fee; only those who have completed the registration form. He emphasized that membership and the fee are voluntary.
Meanwhile, an anonymous source sent a statement to VoxPop Davao’s official email claiming that a group of teachers from a public school in Davao City are calling for the monthly P20 union fee be removed. This statement was forwarded following a viral video in which a teacher from Daniel R Aguinaldo National High School confronted ACT-Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio after he discussed the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The group further stressed that Tinio should stop using their names and images for the benefit of ACT Teachers, stating that their school is non-partisan and does not support calls for the impeachment of Duterte, despite statements from ACT-Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro.
“Sa pangkalahatan, ang mga guro ay nagtataguyod ng kanilang karapatan na hindi mapagkamalang konektado sa mga politikal na usapin at nananawagan para sa mas malayang pagpapahayag ng kanilang mga opinyon at desisyon na hindi pinipilit ng anumang partido o grupo (In general, teachers advocate for their rights, which should not be mistakenly associated with political issues, and they call for greater freedom to express their opinions and make decisions without being coerced by any party or group),” the group allegedly said.
The group also urged the protection of teachers, as the teacher featured in the viral video is facing attacks for speaking the truth.
VoxPop Davao attempted to contact DepEd-Davao Region for a comment but has not yet received a response as of press time. RGP