Updates

In the education sector, the year 2009 was marked by a growing number of school children dropping out of school, budget cuts, inadequate pay and pension fund woes for teachers, as well as violations of their basic rights.

The 1987 constitution mandated compulsory elementary education and free high school education, envisioning a society in which all Filipinos have attained at least a high school level of education. However, under Arroyo’s watch, children than ever before are out of school.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today condemned a spate of abductions of teachers and schoolchildren that have taken place in Mindanao .

Yesterday, armed men allegedly belonging to the Ondo Perez crime gang stormed the Maitum Elementary School in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur and seized more than 70 people to use them as human shields. The men were being pursued by police. Among those held hostage were teachers and at least 17 school children. The school children were subsequently released, but 54 individuals are still being held in captivity.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today called on Malacanang to ensure that public school teachers will receive the maximum amount of Php 10,000 additional cash gift announced by the Department of Budget and Management yesterday.

According to DBM Secretary Rolando Andaya, 1.1 million national government employees will start receiving the bonus starting next week. A minimum of Php 7,000 will be provided by the national government while another Php 3,000 may be given to employees, with the funds to be sourced from agency savings.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today welcomed the statement made by the Commission on Elections that teachers serving in the May 2010 elections will receive a better compensation package.

COMELEC commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal told media yesterday that public school teachers can expect a “bigger and better honoraria package” consisting of honorarium, five-day leave credit, legal support, and medical assistance. He added that the honorarium could be higher than the Php 3,000 received by teachers in the 2007 elections.

We vehemently condemn Pres. Gloria Arroyo for declaring martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao, ostensibly to enable the authorities to carry out justice for the Ampatuan massacre.

Militant teachers today trooped to the Commission on Elections main office in Manila to urge the poll body to allow a teachers’ partylist group to run in the May 2010 elections.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today called on the Commission on Elections to address a number of issues faced by teachers serving in the 2010 national elections.

ACT national chairperson Antonio Tinio noted that around 400,000 teachers are going to be needed by COMELEC to serve in 80,000 precincts in next year’s polls.

Teacher unions from neighboring countries have sent messages condemning the kidnapping and murder of elementary school principal Gabriel Canizares.

The severed head of Canizares, 36, principal of Kanague Elementary School in Patikul, Sulu, was found in downtown Jolo on November 9. His body was recovered over the weekend. He was kidnapped by armed men last October 19 and held for ransom.

Canadian and Philippine organizations today issued a joint statement calling on Canada ’s International Trade Minister Stockwell Day to address human rights issues in the Philippines.

Day is arriving in the Philippines on November 13 for a one-day visit to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between two countries. He will also announce a new project to support local business development and highlight the successes of Canadian companies in the Philippines.

The ACT Teachers Partylist held its national convention this afternoon at the University of the Philippines campus. Attended by over 300 participants, including delegates from 10 of the country’s regions, the newly formed teachers’ partylist declared its intention to participate in the 2010 national elections.