Teachers demand investigation of Independence Day collision between US navy warship, Chinese sub off Subic coast

June 15, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

Reference:

Antonio L. Tinio (0920-9220817)

ACT Chairperson

Militant teachers today challenged Malacañang to explain the circumstances surrounding the collision between a U.S. Navy warship and a Chinese submarine in Philippine waters last Friday, June 12.

The incident, first reported by CNN, involved the destroyer USS John McCain. The Chinese submarine collided with an underwater sonar array being towed by the destroyer. A sonar array is a listening device towed behind a ship for underwater surveillance. US officials have described the incident as an “inadvertent encounter.” According to CNN, the collision took place near Subic Bay.

In another news report, an unnamed Philippine Navy commander confirmed that the incident took place inside the area of responsibility of the navy station at Poro Point in La Union, and that ships had been dispatched to investigate the incident. "We are investigating why the Chinese submarine was inside Philippine territorial waters and also why the US vessel was there in the first place," said the unnamed naval officer.

Subsequently, Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgar Arevalo attempted to downplay the incident. In a statement issued on June 13, Arevalo said that “we would like to presume that it didn't happen [in Subic].... We maintained it could have happened in international waters." Arevalo also conceded that he was unaware of any reason why the US warship was operating in the area. “We have no [military] exercise that would justify its presence here.”

“We condemn this US and Chinese naval incursion into sovereign Philippine territorial waters on June 12, the very day that Filipinos commemorate the nation’s independence,” said Alliance of Concerned Teachers national chairperson Antonio Tinio. “We likewise condemn Pres. Gloria Arroyo for choosing to remain silent and doing nothing in the face of this blatant violation of our sovereignty.” The Consitution bans the presence of foreign troops and bases on Philippine territory, unless authorized by treaty.

“The Philippine navy has already admitted that there is no ongoing joint military exercise with the US navy in the area. There is therefore absolutely no justification for the presence of a US warship playing cat-and-mouse with a Chinese submarine off the Subic coast,” said Tinio. “Unfortunately, their spokesperson is already trying to cover-up the incident by speculating that it happened in international waters.”

Tinio said the collision raised a number of issues regarding the presence of foreign military forces in Philippine waters. “What was the US warship doing in the area? Do US forces routinely violate Philippine sovereignty in this way? And what about the Chinese submarine? We demand that Mrs. Arroyo give the public a full explanation. Malacañang should call on US and Chinese diplomats and military officials to explain why their forces were operating in our waters. We likewise call on both house of Congress to conduct a full investigation into the incident. Otherwise this government will once again fail to uphold it’s basic Constitutional duty of defending national sovereignty against foreign military interests.”

ACT reiterated its call for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement as well as the expulsion of US troops in the Philippines. #

References:

CNN: Sub collides with sonar array towed by U.S. Navy ship http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/06/12/china.submarine/index.html?eref=edition_asia

Gulfnews: Navy confirms reports of Chinese submarine colliding with US ship http://archive.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10322474.html

ABS-CBN News: Navy: US ship, China sub didn’t clash in Subic http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06/13/09/navy-us-ship-china-sub-didnt-clash-subic

Teachers hold midday protest against con-ass bid

June 9, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

Reference: Antonio L. Tinio (0920-9220817)

ACT Chairperson

Militant teachers and education workers led by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers held a protest action at a high school this afternoon to denounce renewed attempts by the Arroyo administration to push through with Charter change.

ACT held the protest during the midday break outside the Ramon Magsaysay High School along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue in Quezon City. It was attended by public school teachers as well as university faculty and employees.

The protesters held a brief noise barrage and program and unfurled a large streamer saying “Teachers say no to Arroyo’s cha-cha!”

“We’re here to express our outrage at the House of Representatives’ latest attempt to railroad amendments to the Constitution,” said ACT national chairperson Antonio Tinio. “By declaring its intention to push through with constitutional amendments without the participation of the Senate, it reveals how desperate Malacañang’s ruling coalition is to prolong its stay in power. Once again, Mrs. Arroyo and her allies are betraying their utter disregard for democratic principles.”

“No wonder she’s distrusted by 48% of the population,” said Tinio, citing the findings of a Pulse Asia survey published yesterday.

Tinio criticized the House majority for passing House Resolution 1109, declaring Congress as a constituent assembly, while refusing to grant public school teachers a Php 9,000 salary increase and failing to act on the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill as well as the controversial reproductive health bill.

“Malacañang’s agenda for Charter change is to prolong the hold on power of Arroyo and her allies, further opening up of the economy by allowing 100% foreign ownership of businesses and land, removing constitutional prohibitions on the presence of foreign troops and bases, and further restriction of the people’s civil liberties. Militant and progressive teachers and education workers nationwide will do their share in opposing their efforts,” said Tinio.

ACT called on teachers and the public to join the big rally against charter change to be held on Ayala Avenue in Makati at 5 p.m. tomorrow. #

Teachers fully support Rep. Carlos Padilla’s call for teachers and nurses to get P25,000 monthly salary (SG15)

May 18, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

Reference:

Bejamin Valbuena

ACT Nat'l Vice-Chairperson

0918-2399222

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) fully supports the call of Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla and other solons, for teachers and nurses to receive P25,000 monthly salary. Rep. Padilla and other lawmakers is showing high regard for teaching as a noble profession, for their moves to increase compensation for public school teachers.

National vice-chairperson Benjamin Valbuena said that Rep. Padilla's and the other solons' call for P25,000 monthly salary for teachers and nurses, is congruent to ACT's demand for P9,000 salary increase, which is equivalent to P3,000 added yearly for three years. With Padilla's proposed Salary Grade 15 (SG15) for public school teachers, the educators will receive P3,200 annual increase for four years.

"Rep. Padilla's proposed salary increase for the teachers shall put the teachers in the same level as nurses," Valbuena explained. "With the task of molding future leaders of the nation, the compensation of teaching profession should also compare favorably with that of other occupations requiring equivalent or similar qualifications, training and abilities, such as the compensation for the AFP's 2nd Lieutenants."

ACT lauded the lawmakers' call, which is consistent to the principle that compensation should at least agree with the standard cost of living, and should conform to the qualification of the profession. "The teacher's salary should ensure teachers a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families, as it is stated in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA No. 4670)," Valbuena added.

Furthermore, ACT supports the demands of all government employees for substantial increase in the compensation of professionals and sub-professionals in government service. The rank and file government employees, including 500,000 public school teachers, are the ones in the frontline of day-to-day public service, and not the executives and Malacañang officials. "Any increase in compensation, as well as promotions, should be based on actual and concrete merit in providing genuine service to the public," concluded Valbuena.

Position Paper on Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or Salary Standardization Law 3 (SSL3) proposed by Malacañang and the DBM

May 18, 2009

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the more than 500,000 public school teachers that it represents, considers the Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 - otherwise known as the SSL3 - unacceptable for the following reasons:

1. The wage hike proposed under Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 falls short of the 9,000-peso salary upgrade (P3,000 yearly increase in 3 years which will increase the entry-level salary of a new teacher from a measly P12,026 to P21,026 per month) that teachers demand.

Under Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3, a new teacher’s entry level status is merely at Salary Grade 11 (P18,549) which will be implemented in four yearly tranches.

This amount is just a little bit higher than the Salary Grade 10 offered for a Teacher I position, equivalent to a mere P6,523 increase in four years or a paltry P1,630.75 annually. Talking of percentages, this increase is only 54% of a teacher’s current salary to be implemented in four years, really small compared with the 74% increase in three years that teachers have been asking for.

More importantly, the proposed Salary Grade 11 (P18,549) under Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 will not even push a teacher’s salary to a rate that complies with or is at least comparable with a living wage/monthly cost of living pegged at P21,390 (national average), a rate that continues to soar almost everyday.

This goes against two particular provisions in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Republic Act No. 4670) which sets the criteria for a teacher’s salary: firstly, it must “ensure teachers a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families”; and secondly, it should “compare favorably with those paid in other occupations requiring equivalent or similar qualifications, training and abilities.”

2. Our basic demand which is a 9,000-peso salary upgrade (a 3,000-peso increase annually in 3 years) has been the teachers’ overwhelming call for the past year and in fact, teachers have gained victories in this struggle,

Hundreds of thousands of teachers in the whole archipelago have assembled, united, marched, rallied and lobbied at the Senate and the House of Representatives to advance our 9,000-peso salary upgrade demand.

The solidarity of teachers gained the whole Senate’s solid support when it approved in third reading Senate Bill 2408, otherwise known as “An Act Providing for Additional Support and Compensation for Educators in Basic Education.” This law has the following salient provisions: It provides public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education an additional compensation of Php 9,000 to be paid in three equal tranches over a period of three years; It also provides additional support (local school board allowance, medical allowance, Magna Carta bonus).

Meanwhile, the teachers’ demands also gained ground in the House of Representatives through the initiative of party-list representatives from Gabriela, Bayan Muna and Anakpawis and other representatives from the Minority.

The Department of Education leadership from the national, regional and down to the division-level, has vigorously supported the 9,000-peso salary upgrade.

Thus, Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 will never be acceptable and teachers will continue to fight for the just and timely call for a 9,000-peso salary upgrade.

3. Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 contain questionable provisions:

· Adverse effects on allowances and benefits currently received by teachers

· Adverse effects on step increments

· Increased power or almost a blanket authority of the Department of Budget and Management and the

· Office of the President to decide regarding the “standardization” of salaries and benefits, and the classification” of positions.

4. In its entirety, the proposed Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 maintains and worsens the lack of social justice and equity in the system of compensation and classification.

Under the proposed Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3, those under the Sub-Professional level (Salary Grade 1-9) will receive only 28% to 36% increase, while those in the Professional level (Salary Grade 10-24) will receive 38% to 100% increase. Meanwhile, those in the Executive category will receive more than 71%-142% increase.

The government shoddily and cheaply treats a majority of government employees, including 500,000 public school teachers who are in the frontline of public service, condemning them to a status which is below poverty level which means, having a wage way below the living wage/cost of living.

Under the Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3, Salary Grade 1 is pegged at P9, 000 or an increase of P2,851 or a 46% hike from the current P6,149. This is not even half of the living wage/monthly cost of living which is P21, 000. Meanwhile, under SSL3, Salary Grade 33 (the president) is pegged at P120, 000 or an increase of P50, 122, a 71.7% hike from the P69, 878 that the president currently receives. This amount is five times more than the living wage. Thus, Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 will only further widen the gap between the low wages of rank-and-file employees on the one hand, and the sumptuous income and privilege of government officials on the other. Such arrangement negates public service which, at the very least should be different from the private sector that is motivated by profits.

5. Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 will maintain and further worsen the salary grade distortion. Why would teachers be one salary grade higher only from Salary Grade 10, and thus will only receive what an AFP sergeant will have? Why would nurses be downgraded by four salary grades from the original SG15 while barangay councilors and captains will eventually be raised to SG 10 and SG 14, respectively? These distortions go against the meaning of equity, justice and democracy.

6. Under the proposed Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3, the specific salary grade and high compensation offered to personnel of AFP-DND, PNP-DILG and Philippine Coast Guard are written, while the specific salary grade classification of civilian personnel will be arbitrarily decided upon by the Department of Budget and Management. This is a direct assault to the essence of fairness, justice and equity.

7. Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 have adverse effects on all government employees:

· Erosion of our gains in the struggle for more benefits and the right to have collective negotiations agreement (CNA)

· Non-automatic application of salary increase to employees of local government units: classifications will depend on income, class and financial capability of the area concerned (65-75% only of proposed hikes for 6th class municipalities)

· Employees of GOCCs, GFIs and SUCs with their own charter are exempted from Joint Resolution No. 36 under Committee Report 1992 or SSL3 even if their rates are lower than that provided for in the SSL.

· Salaries will be frozen for four years

Our just calls:

· P9,000 salary upgrade (P3,000 yearly in 3 years) for public school teachers!

· P3,000 automatic, lump-sum and not staggered increase in the minimum pay of government employees!

· Annual automatic salary adjustment

· Regularization and institutionalization of current benefits and provision of funds for such

· Fight for a just and equitable compensation and classification of government employees

• Investigate the following anomalies: shameless perks, privileges and funds received by top-level bureaucrats and officials; the myriad of allowances and huge “intelligence funds” not covered by COA’s review power; huge honorarium of government representatives in the board of directors of GOCCs and sequestered corporations. In essence, these fall under the multiple compensation issue since most of them are also incumbent secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries etc. in government agencies; and the “over-supply” of Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Commissioners, Consultants and other dubious positions created to accommodate lackeys and supporters of the administration or pay its debts to its “benefactors” thus unnecessarily bloating the bureaucracy with highly-paid yet incompetent top-level bureaucrats while hard-working rank-and-file employees receive crumbs.

Ten Years Is Enough. Junk VFA!

May 27, 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the Senate ratification of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement. The ten-year implementation of the VFA has vindicated many of its original critics which included lawyers, church groups, activists and lawmakers. Indeed, the past ten years have shown us the utter lopsidedness of this agreement, as well as the many abuses arising from its implementation.

We have seen how thousands of US troops have gone in and out of the Philippines in the name of the “war on terror”. We have seen how some of them have been staying in the country indefinitely, since 2002, under the guise of humanitarian missions and trainings. We are concerned with the interventionist operations being launched by US Special Forces in the country which are banned by the Philippine constitution. We are concerned with the virtually permanent presence of foreign troops even after the termination of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement.

We have noted the injuries to human life, damage to property and disruption of livelihood as a result of the Balikatan war games throughout the country.

We have seen how under the provisions of the VFA, the standards of Justice are applied differently to erring American troops. We know that one convicted rapist, a US Marine, was acquitted because of the pressure on Philippine government to preserve the VFA. And this was after the US Marine was accorded special treatment using the provisions of the VFA.

We know too that despite the claims of the indispensability of the VFA because of the alleged benefits derived from it, the AFP remains backward and undeveloped, and the country remains no safer than it was before the VFA.

Ten years of the VFA has revealed to us many things. It has shown us how sovereignty is incompatible with the prolonged presence of foreign troops. It has shown us how our legal processes can be undermined by diplomatic considerations.

On the 10th anniversary of the VFA, let us reaffirm our adherence to national sovereignty, independence and human rights. Let us come together to demand the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement and for an end to the continuing US military presence in the Philippines.

We’re inviting you to a cultural activity and protest action on May 27 at the Baywalk in front of the Rajah Sulaiman Plaza in Roxas Boulevard in Manila from 4pm to 8pm. The activity hopes to bring together advocates and defenders of national sovereignty as well as concerned artists and performers. Let us continue to raise our voice against foreign intervention. Let us continue to unite for genuine freedom for the Philippines.

JUNK VFA MOVEMENT

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR JOURNALIST CHE-CHE LAZARO

Reference:
Bejamin Valbuena

ACT Nat'l Vice-Chairperson

0918-2399222

May 13, 2009

We, teachers and workers in the education sector belonging to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, the largest teachers organization nationwide, condemn in the highest possible term the malicious filing of a wiretapping case by Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Vice President for Public Relations and Communications Ella E. Valencerina against esteemed journalist and journalism professor Cecilia “Cheche” Lazaro.

The wiretapping case filed by Valencerina is meant to intimidate and harass into silence those who expose the GSIS’ failure to swiftly provide retirement benefits and services for many public school teachers and other government employees. It is a vicious attack against press freedom and the people’s right to seek redress of grievances.

The case is a mere trumped-up charge, devoid of facts and bloated with malice. It reeks of a regime that specializes in cover-up and rejects the internationally-accepted democratic principle of transparency in government affairs.

The Alliance, its member individuals, and allied teachers’ federations and organizations, is consistent in criticizing the unjust policies introduced by the GSIS under Winston Garcia, such as the Premium-Based Policy and the Claims and Loans Interdependency Program.

We, hundreds of thousands of public school teachers and other GSIS members, have been unfairly deprived of the full enjoyment of the benefits granted to us by law. Since 2003, these and other policies and related practices have burdened us, teachers, faculty and employees with unwarranted deductions, onerous interest charges and other penalties. We have also consistently criticized GSIS for its lack of transparency regarding the placement of GSIS funds in certain local and foreign investments. As a result of ACT’s continued vigilance and championing of the teachers’ cause, GSIS President Winston Garcia filed four (4) libel cases against our president, Antonio Tinio.

Che-che Lazaro and Probe Team, just like ACT President Tinio, merely publicized the teachers’ valid complaints against the GSIS, and now they are suffering at the hands of a government that seems to be going berserk in its penchant to silence those who continue to objectively report what’s happening in our beleaguered land.

We’re living in an upside-down world! Journalists and teachers who serve the interest of public are harassed with absurd wiretapping and libel cases while politicians accused of corruption and abusive law enforcers remain scot-free.

We stand united for Che-Che Lazaro and other victims of this vindictive and tyrannical regime. We stand united for press freedom and the people’s right to petition the government for redress of grievances. We stand united for transparency and good governance.

We support Che-Che Lazaro’s continuous service to public interest through investigative journalism and urge other like-minded journalists to carry on with their excellent advocacy for truth.

We oppose the GSIS wiretapping case against her and urge Valencerina to come to her senses so that she may promote transparency and good governance through listening to the teachers’ grievances instead of filing absurd cases against those who champion or at least publicize the teachers’ demands.

Finally, we stand united against a new dictatorship now upon us, bent in using state power to silence its critics and castrate press freedom, and urge every freedom-loving citizen to stand-up and be counted in the continuous fight for freedom of the press and freedom of expression. If we do not speak out against injustice, it should not surprise us that the next tongue that will be clipped is ours.

Members of Alliance ofConcerned Teachers Cebu picketed the GSIS office to protest illegal deductions

Teachers hold rally vs. GSIS tomorrow

Updated April 05, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Members and supporters of Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Cebu City Chapter will hold a rally tomorrow against the management of Government Service Insurance System.

Saying the “premium-based policy ni Winston Garcia kalbaryo sa mga magtutudlo ug mga myembro sa GSIS,” the protesters will seek to address complaints of teacher, retirees and pensioners on the alleged irregularities in the agency’s operations.

Early morning tomorrow, protesters will assemble at Elizabeth Mall and will proceed to GSIS compound where a program will be held at 10 a.m.

Major issues that will be raised are the GSIS Premium-Based Policy and Auto CLIP (Claims and Loans Interdependency Program) or Cross Default Policy, which ACT alleged to have resulted in the deferment of loans and benefits since May in 2003.

ACT alleged that with this policy of GSIS, members are subjected to high loan interest rates, unequal and non-commensurate retirement benefits and delayed contribution to employees’ compensation.

It also complained against the increase in contributions, limited survivorship claims, and life insurance policy with no benefits for disabilities, accidental death and burial.

ACT Cebu chairperson William Alterado said that the GSIS has been neglecting the welfare of millions of state employees and pensioners.

“GSIS is abtik pa sa kilat ug mat-an pa sa pinya in making automatic deduction of all our dues from our regular salaries. But when our turn comes to collect our benefits, we are made to suffer by going through bureaucratic processes,” Alterado said.

Alterado lamented that GSIS no longer protects them as they are losing most of their benefits, saying that members retire without retirement pay because of the Auto CLIP policy and other “bureaucratic abuses.”

He said that retirees can no longer enjoy their retirement benefits if they have unpaid loans. “Worse, it is only at retirement that employees usually realize that their unpaid loans had ballooned to staggering amount due to high interest rates.”

Another issue that teachers are complaining about is the charging of interests and surcharges to their individual accounts for the delayed remittances of Department of Budget and Management of their premiums.

Alterado said that since the premiums are automatically deducted from the payroll, the teachers are not responsible for the delay.

He said cases of delayed pension that members receive even if the remittances are issued on time are due to the failure of the GSIS to record or encode the payments. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM (THE FREEMAN)

ACT alarmed by reported death of teacher kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay

March 27, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

Reference:

Antonio L. Tinio (0920-9220817)

ACT Chairperson

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today expressed apprehension at reports that one of the teachers kidnapped by unidentified abductors earlier this month in Zamboanga Sibugay has died while in captivity.

According to a statement made by the Provincial Crisis Management Committee of Zamboanga Sibugay, Noemi Mandi, 38, passed away because she was not provided with her maintenance medicine. Mandi had been through surgery before her abduction. “The committee received information that one of the teachers, Noemi Mandi, passed away during her captivity due to un-sustained medication of her recent medical operation.”

Mandi, together with Jocelyn Inion, 39, and Jocelyn Enriquez, 43, all teachers of Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School, were abducted at sea last March 13 while on their way home. Police have identified their abductors as a group of pirates led by Kamsa Asdanal. The kidnappers are demanding a P10 million ransom for the release of the teachers.

“We are saddened to hear reports of the alleged demise of one of the teachers kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay. Once again, we condemn those responsible for these abductions that have victimized these dedicated public servants and deprived hundreds of school children of access to education. We urge the authorities to immediately verify the condition of all teachers being held in captivity and to redouble their efforts to secure their immediate release,” said ACT national chairman Antonio Tinio, at a press conference held in the ACT office in Quezon City.

Tinio noted that another group of teachers abducted in Zambonaga City still remain in captivity. Last January 23, Rafael Mayonado, 22, Janette de los Reyes, 27, and Freires Quizon, 29, were kidnapped at sea while travelling by boat from Sacol Island, half a mile east of Zamboanga City. Quizon and de los Reyes are teachers of Arena Blanco National High School, Landang Gua Annex, while Mayonado is with Landang Gua Elementary School. Their abductors, identified by authorities as a “lost command” of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, have demanded a P5 million ransom.

ACT unveiled two billboards that would display a running tally of the number of days the two groups of teachers have been kept in captivity. The billboards will be posted prominently on the premises of the ACT national headquarters. “As of today, the Zamboanga teachers have been held hostage for 64 days while the Zamboanga Sibugay teachers have been captive for 15 days,” said Tinio. “We will maintain this tally to remind the public of the plight of our fellow teachers and to push the authorities to secure their release at the soonest possible time. We call on schools throughout the country to do the same. We call on the Department of Education to keep a similar tally at the central office in Pasig.” #

ACT launch GSIS refund campaign in Cebu

February 14, 2009

Progressive and militant teacher’s organization has launched in Cebu province a nationwide campaign to demand refunds from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) urged teachers to fight for the scrapping of the GSIS policy of automatically deducting alleged arrears from their claims and benefits.

"Even though Cebu is the political stronghold of the Garcia clan of GSIS President and General Manager Winston Garcia, we teachers of Cebu are united in condemning the unjust and illegal policies of GSIS," said ACT Cebu City chapter chairman William Alterado.

"We'll do our part in ensuring the success of the GSIS refund campaign," he added.

ACT chairman Antonio Tinio, who is currently facing five libel cases from Garcia, urged public school teachers, who compose over a third of the GSIS membership, to fight the policy.

He said ACT's "GSIS Refund Now!" campaign will involve the filing of a lawsuit to nullify the automatic deduction policy, a demand for the refunding of all deductions illegally made against members, and the prosecution of GSIS officials responsible for the said policy.

"Our ACT chapters nationwide are giving out forms that will help teachers victimized by CLIP to document their experience," Tinio said.

He said the present GSIS policy, the Claims and Loans Interdependency Policy (CLIP), "tramples on the right of members to due process and in fact violates the GSIS law itself."

Tinio said Section 41(w) of the said law stipulates that the GSIS Board of Trustees must file a legal action or suit before the proper court or body to recover any arrears incurred by its members.

"From the point of view of members, the law provides them with the protection of due process. The legal proceeding gives them an opportunity to challenge or disprove the claims being made by GSIS against them. On the other hand, the automatic deduction policy is unilateral, summary, and not subject to appeal. It violates the members' right to due process," he said.

Tinio added that the policy is made more unjust due to the shoddy state of the GSIS membership records.

He said GSIS is notorious for maintaining an incomplete and/or erroneous membership database, especially regarding the posting of premium payments.

GSIS itself acknowledges that they are currently engaged in a massive "reposting" project to bring these up to date, he added.

Yet, he said this does not keep them from using this flawed database to generate claims of "premiums in arrears" against its members, which are then automatically deducted the moment they claim a benefit or take out a loan from the GSIS.

"In most cases these so-called premiums in arrears are false, merely the result of their failure to post premium payments. Members are thus subjected to double deductions," he said.

He cited the case of a teacher in Tarlac who was entitled to a maturity claim of P93,185.44 but who only received P50,889.72 after the GSIS automatically deducted P42,295.72 in alleged premiums in arrears.

"This case is typical, it's happening to GSIS members all over the country, and its one of the main reasons why there's such widespread anger against the GSIS. Garcia is fond of extolling the billions of pesos in earnings made by GSIS under his stewardship. The fact is that most of it has been made through illegal deductions from the benefits of members," he said.

Cebu teachers hold prayer and candle lighting for P9,000 hike in pay

March 04, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

References:

William Alterado ACT-Cebu City Chairperson
Benjie Paragsa ACT- Cebu City Secretary General

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers Cebu lead the public school teachers in a candle lighting and prayer rally today (March 4, 6:pm) at Fuente Osmenia Clock, to demand the immediate passage of legislation granting them a P 9,000 in salary.

The demonstratration is the response and cebu's teachers contribution for a nationwide coordinated teachers protest that has been dubbed as “ Teachers on the march: Parada ng mga Guro para sa P9,000 Dagdag na Suweldo.”

The symbolic protest is meant to deliver a strong message to the 8 Cebuano congressmen and the House of Representatives in general. Teachers all over the country are demanding that Congress pass the proposed legislation granting teachers a P9,000 increase not only to restore some of the purchasing power lost over the last seven years but also to address the growing disparity between the salaries of teachers and other positions in government,” said ACT Cebu City chairperson William Alterado.

Alterado noted that salaries of uniformed personnel had overtaken those in the teaching profession since the passage of legislation such as R.A. 8551, passed in 1998, which provided the basis for upgrading salaries of police personnel, and R.A. 9166 in 2002, which upgraded the pay of personnel in the armed forces. “A public school teacher today receives a basic monthly salary of P12,026. A mere cadet in the Philippine National Police Academy, on the other hand, receives P15,992. A 2nd Lieutenant in the armed forces, with academic qualifications similar to that of a teacher, receives P17,629. Aside from this, the lieutenant receives subsistence and other allowances and longevity pay amounting to an additional P5,333. Even a private receives more per month, at P15,036, than a public school teacher. Our demand for a P9,000 increase seeks to address this situation which has downgraded the teaching profession and demoralized teachers.” ###

QUICK FACTS from ACT Philippines-National

(Teachers March in National Capital Region)

ACT national chairperson Antonio Tinio pointed out that salaries of uniformed personnel had overtaken those in the teaching profession since the passage of legislation such as R.A. 8551, passed in 1998, which provided the basis for upgrading salaries of police personnel, and R.A. 9166 in 2002, which upgraded the pay of personnel in the armed forces.

Tinio ticked off these numbers:

■ A public school teacher receives a basic monthly salary of P12,026.
■ A mere cadet in the Philippine National Police Academy receives P15,992.
■ A 2nd Lieutenant in the armed forces, with academic qualifications similar to that of a teacher, receives P17,629. Aside from this, the lieutenant receives subsistence and other allowances and longevity pay amounting to an additional P5,333.
■ Even a private receives more per month, at P15,036, than a public school teacher.

"Our demand for a P9,000 increase seeks to address this situation which has downgraded the teaching profession and demoralized teachers.”

Proposed Salary Standardization Law 3 unfair to public school teachers

NEWS RELEASE

References:
William Alterado ACT-Cebu City Chairperson
Benjie Paragsa ACT-Cebu City Secreray General


The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today criticized a proposed public sector wage hike bill pending in the House of Representatives for favoring military and uniformed personnel over employees in the civilian bureaucracy.

According to ACT Cebu City Chairperson, House Joint Resolution No. 24 will grant higher pay increases to military and police personnel relative to professionals in the civilian bureaucracy, such as teachers, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and doctors.

House Joint Resolution No. 24, “Joint Resolution Urging the President of the Philippines to Modify the Compensation and Position Classification System of the Government and to Implement the Same Initially Effective July 1, 2009, and Authorizing the Amendment of Existing Laws and Issuances Contrary to the Provisions of this Resolution,” was drafted by the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission and filed by Speaker Prospero Nograles on September 16, 2008. “Therefore, it is the Arroyo administration’s public sector wage hike proposal,” said Alterado, noting that there were numerous other proposed bills pertaining to salaries pending in the House.

To his part Benjie Paragsa Secretary General of ACT Cebu City said that “While we do not begrudge military and police personnel the pay increases that will be granted them, we do resent the fact that the Arroyo administration has consistently focused on upgrading the pay of uniformed personnel while neglecting to do the same for the civilian bureaucracy,” He pointed out that while Malacañang imposed a wage freeze on civilian personnel from 2001 to 2007, during the same period it substantially upgraded the salaries and benefits of military and police personnel. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing the same bias in the administration’s current proposal.”

ACT revealed that at a recent meeting of a Technical Working Group, DBM officials explained that a Police Officer I or Private will receive a total monthly compensation (which includes basic pay and allowances) of P19,800; a Cadet in the Philippine National Police Academy will receive P25,140; and a 2nd Lieutenant, P34,218. On the other hand, a Teacher I or Nurse I will receive P20,549; an Accountant I will receive P21,940; a doctor or lawyer (Medical Officer I or Attorney I) will receive P28,878. “In this proposal, a Cadet in the PNPA will be paid 22% higher than a public school teacher,” said Tinio. “In fact, the Cadet will have the same basic salary as an Associate Professor I in our state universities and colleges. That’s a tenured Ph.D. holder sharing the same pay grade as a plebe in the academy. Is that fair to professionals in the civilian bureaucracy?”

“We appeal to the members of the House as well as the House leadership, particularly Speaker Nograles and Committee on Appropriations chairman Junie Cua, to heed our call for fairness and uplift the pay and status of teachers and other professionals in the civilian bureaucracy,” said Alterado. “In particular, our demand is for a P9,000 increase in the total compensation of teachers, from the current P14,026 to P23,026.”

Alterado made his appeal during a candle lighting of public school teachers in Fuente Osmenia Clock in Cebu City. This symbolic event signals our determination to carry on this struggle for decent salaries for teachers and other professionals in government.”#

ACT Cebu Challenges the 8 Cebuano Congressmen

March 03, 2009
PRESS STATEMENT

References:
William Alterado ACT-Cebu City Chairperson
Benjie Paragsa ACT- Cebu City Secretary General


Public school teachers today are facing discrimination among government employees and professionals. The half of a million public school teaching and non-teaching personnel are experiencing economic dislocation. The daily cost of living is very high but salary still nailed to a lower level.

We, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Cebu in public schools demand for the immediate passage of legislation granting a P 9,000 in salary.

We , the Alliance of concerned Teachers in Cebu challenged our 8 Cebuano congressmen to help and support this legitimate and just demand for immediate passage of legislation granting a P9,000 legislated salary increase for public school teaching and non-teaching personnel. These proposed legislation intends to upgrade teachers salary not only to restore some of the purchasing power lost over the last seven years but also to address the growing disparity between the salaries of teachers and other positions in government.

Salaries of uniformed personnel had overtaken those in the teaching profession since the passage of legislation such as R.A. 8551, passed in 1998, which provided the basis for upgrading salaries of police personnel, and R.A. 9166 in 2002, which upgraded the pay of personnel in the armed forces. “A public school teacher today receives a basic monthly salary of P12,026. A mere cadet in the Philippine National Police Academy, on the other hand, receives P15,992. A 2nd Lieutenant in the armed forces, with academic qualifications similar to that of a teacher, receives P17,629. Aside from this, the lieutenant receives subsistence and other allowances and longevity pay amounting to an additional P5,333. Even a private receives more per month, at P15,036, than a public school teacher. Our demand for a P9,000 increase seeks to address this situation which has downgraded the teaching profession and demoralized teachers.”

UPGRADE TEACHERS SALARY NOW!
SUPPORT THE P9,000 LEGISLATED SALARY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS!
JUNK CONGRESSMAN NOGRALES SALARY STANDARDIZATION LAW (SSL) 3 NOW!
P6,000 IS NOT ENOUGH, P9,000 IS FAIR AND RIGHT!