An organization of public school teachers will continue to lobby for additional salary hike, this schoolyear and in 2021-22.
They will also push for mass testing in the campaign against coronavirus and free hospitalization for educators.
These plans were disclosed by Richard Gelangre, president of the Bacolod City Public School Teachers Federation, which has about 3,600 members. He was also past president of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Bacolod.
Currently, the principal of Handumanan National High, Gelangre, in a recent interview with NEGROS NOW DAILY, said that three out of at least nine BCPSTF members, who tested positive of COVID-19, died in the past months.
The fatalities were a senior high, a junior high and a grade school teacher.
Teachers, he said, have to rely on their own financial resources when they get sick. That’s why, we are lobbying for free hospitalization, adding that the Department of Education does not have a budget for their medical expenses due to the pandemic.
“DepEd has not allocated any amount in case teachers are hospitalized because of the coronavirus,” he added.
At the same time, he appealed to the local government to hasten the delivery of equipment needed for the distance learning program of the department.
Below is the NND interview with the BCPSTF president that was conducted
shortly before the opening of the schoolyear and the World Teachers Day on Oct. 5.
Please share with our readers some details about your professional life.
I’m a graduate of Political Science from West Negros University. After graduation, I added 24 Education course units as my fall back in case I could not find employment, then I would be a teacher.
My college professor persuaded me to apply as a high school teacher at UNO-R de Talisay. I applied and was hired and stayed there for 10 years. On my eleventh year of teaching, I applied to a public school in Bacolod, because I already have my own family and my residence is here. I have been teaching in the public school since 1991.
I tried to leave teaching for three times to look for a more gainful profession but I end up returning to this job thrice, too. I think it is divine-ordained that I’ll be a teacher forever.
What are the current activities of ACT in Bacolod City?
I’m no longer the president of the Alliance. But at present, I am the president of the Bacolod City Public School Teachers Federation, an affiliate of ACT Philippines. ACT Bacolod is under the umbrella of BCPSTF.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your activities and programs?
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our activities because we can no longer have our lobbying on the streets for our salary increase demands. But getting in touch with other teachers is still made easy because of different media platforms.
What have been your preparations for the new schoolyear?
Foremost in our preparation is to follow the health protocol imposed by the IATF. Next is the physical and psychological preparation to carry out our mandate of educating our students even in the midst of the pandemic. The challenging tasks are the unending printing of modules because majority of the students and parents opt for Learning Delivery Modality of Distance Learning Printed Modular.
Many of the students have no stable internet connection so they choose the Self-Learning Modules as their vehicle for learning.
The burden now is how to find papers, ink and printers which fall to the teachers and principals since budget in the form of MOOE, or Maintenance Operating and Other Expenses, is not enough. So the teachers are asking their friends, family members, alumni and other stakeholders to donate bond papers for the school.
What difficulties/challenges have you encountered in your preparations for school year opening?
The challenges and difficulties naturally are on the safety of the teachers during the pandemic. DepEd has not allocated any amount in case teachers are hospitalized because of the coronavirus.
Teachers have to rely on their own financial capability in case they got sick. The meager resources of the school for papers and ink have also added to the burden of the teachers because they’re always on the lookout for potential donors. The unending webinars, Learning Delivery Modality 2 Course and other requirements like ASAP reports are also challenges that all teachers have to confront.
What are your plans and programs for SY 2020-21?
This year and next year, we plan to lobby for additional salary increase for the teachers and push for mass testing and free hospitalization; additional insurance on top of GSIS and Philhealth. We will also lobby for the budget increase in education, more books and a monthly internet allowance of P1,500 for every teacher.
Any statement or appeal to your partners/stakeholders?
To our DepEd officials, please understand the plight of the teachers. Do not overwhelm them with so many tasks and deadlines some of which are not really directly related to the art of teaching but are only requirements imposed by foreign lenders as a requisite for loans related to education.
To our LGU, please hasten your procurement of gadgets, laptops, papers, printers, duplicating machines for our teachers and schools. Classes have already started, yet your promised support to our education is nowhere to be found.
To parents, thank you for always supporting the teachers. If you find it hard to guide and teach your children at home, don’t rant on the teachers, this is their job which you’re now performing in the new normal. We’re a text or messenger away for your inquiries. We will be happy to help you.
What is your message for teachers?
Fellow teachers, always be steadfast in our mission to educate our students during this most challenging moment of our profession. We’re now the new frontliners. Let’s not forget that knowledge and wisdom should go on in order to defeat ignorance.
As we celebrate World Teachers Day and National Teachers Month, let’s remember our fallen comrades in the profession who gave their lives for the sake of illuminating learning in the darkness of the pandemic, ignorance and fear.
Let us pray that the Almighty will always bless us with good health and sound mind thus, we can continue serving our student, society and country.*
