ACT Teachers wants economic aid hike for government employees. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers submitted a petition to the Office of the House Speaker on Tuesday asking for a hike to the monthly Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) for government employees from P2,000 to P5,000.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said funding for flood control projects and confidential expenses should instead go to the PERA program next year.
"Puwedeng pagkunan ‘yung confidential and intelligence funds na sobrang pinalobo, at marami pang iba. ‘Yung Local Government Support Fund na last year pa, pero ngayon, talagang naipakita na presidential pork barrel ito," Tinio said.
According to the lawmaker, more than P11 billion is allocated for the PERA program in the proposed 2027 budget, which would result in a P500 increase.
But for Tinio, this is not enough.
"After 17 years, dadagdagan lang ng P500 a month. Napakaliit. Kayang-kaya naman ng gobyerno na magbigay ng mas malaki, katulad ng ginawa sa military and uniformed personnel," Tinio said.
"For this fiscal year, 2026, nagdagdag sila ng — mahigit dinoble ang subsistence allowance [ng military at uniformed personnel]," Tinio said.
The petition gathered around 320,000 signatures, ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.