Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), along with students and rights activists, march to Mendiola, Manila on October 5, 2026, for their annual World Teachers’ Day protest. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Teachers took to the streets of Manila on World Teachers’ Day on Monday, October 5, calling for higher salaries, better working conditions, and greater government support for the education sector.
Led by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the protesters marched toward Mendiola to press the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address what the group described as the long-standing concerns of teachers and education workers.
Among those who joined the protest was 63-year-old Regina Ramos, a teacher at Navotas National High School who has been teaching for nearly four decades.
READ: Teachers, police clash near Malacañang ahead of World Teachers' Day
For Ramos, age should not prevent teachers from standing up for their rights and calling for decent wages, benefits and adequate facilities in schools.
“Walang pinipiling edad ang pakikibaka. Hangga't hindi nila nililingon ang sektor ng edukasyon, nakabubuhay at disenteng sweldo, mga benepisyo, at higit lalo iyong mga pangangailangan sa eskwelahan," Ramos said.
Ramos added that teachers continue to face inadequate facilities despite years of service. At her school, she said students do not have enough space for activities.
“Isipin mo, MAPEH iyong tinuturo ko, pero 'yong eskwelahan mismo, wala kaming sports complex na magagamit. Wala kaming space na napaglalaruan ng mga bata. Umaagaw lang kami doon sa kalsada. Kaya talagang hanggang sa magre-retire na lang ako, umaasa na lang na sana mapagbigyan iyong sektor ng edukasyon," she said.
Another teacher, Joey Japson of Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma High School, joined the protest after teaching earlier in the day.
Japson was also among the teachers who protested near Malacañang the previous day. He said he sustained an injury to his hand after an alleged confrontation with security personnel.
“Nandito pa rin iyong sugat. Nandito pa rin iyong pamamaga. Ngayong araw na ito hindi titigil ang mga guro. Hindi kami titigil na ipapanawagan iyong mga gusto, nais sabihin, kamtin, ng mga guro ngayong araw na ito sa ating pangulo," Japson said.
READ: PNP defends police dispersal of teachers’ protest near Malacañang
Education students also joined the demonstration. Joryl Zabala of the Philippine Normal University said future teachers must stand with educators in demanding better compensation.
“Tayo ngayon pong mga iskolar ng bayan, kailangan tumindig para po sa ating mga kaguruan. Tayong bilang mga future-ready teachers, kinakailangang tumindig upang tumaas pa lalo ang sahod ng ating mga kaguruan," Zabala said.
ACT called on the Marcos administration to move beyond what it described as repeated promises to improve the welfare of teachers.
National chairperson Ruby Bernardo said the government’s most meaningful way of honoring teachers would be to raise their salaries.
“Wala pong pinakamagandang regalo ang pwedeng ibigay sa atin ng gobyernong Marcos Jr. kundi ang pagtataas ng sahod. Ang panawagan namin ay 50 thousand na entry-level para sa ating mga guro, pampubliko man o pribado," Bernardo said.
In its World Teachers’ Day protest, ACT pushed for a P50,000 entry-level salary for teachers, a P5,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance for government workers, and an education budget equivalent to 6% of the country’s gross domestic product.
The group also called for humane workloads, inclusive and fully funded promotion opportunities, nationalist education, and respect for teachers’ union rights and academic freedom.
ACT staged a fiesta-themed protest dubbed “Pistang Protesta: Dagdag Sweldo, Hindi Dagdag Trabaho!” where teachers used traditional Filipino games as part of their demonstration.
The group said similar actions were held in schools and communities nationwide, including human formations, banners and placards highlighting teachers’ demands.
ACT also criticized what it described as attacks on teachers’ rights and freedoms, as well as the government’s treatment of protesters during the previous day’s demonstration near Malacañang.
The group said it would continue its campaign, including possible mass walkouts and strikes, if the government continues to ignore the concerns of teachers and education workers.
READ: Marcos calls on teachers to continue forming ‘discerning, principled’ Filipinos