CITING results of a latest poll opinion survey, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio underscored the need for P50,000-entry level salary for teachers and an across-the-board pay hike for all workers nationwide.
“The result of the Octa survey is a clear message from the people: wages are not enough to deal with inflation. When 45 percent of Filipinos say wage increase is their top concern, overtaking even inflation control, it means workers can no longer cope with the cost of living,” said Tinio, a deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives.
The Octa Research Tugon ng Masa poll conducted during the fourth quarter of 2025 showed that improving or increasing workers’ remuneration was cited by 45 percent of adult Filipinos as their top national concern, surpassing controlling the rising prices of basic goods and services at 41 percent.
Price control had been the leading concern of policy-makers, consistently since the first quarter of 2022.
“This is a damning indictment of this administration’s economic policies. Inflation may have slowed, but workers’ purchasing power has not recovered. The real solution is to raise wages, not wait for prices to drop,” Tinio emphasized.
Tinio pointed out that teachers were among the most affected sectors by stagnant wages amid rising costs. “Our public school teachers are struggling to make ends meet. Many are forced to take on side jobs, borrow money, or skimp on their own families’ needs just to survive. This is unacceptable for professionals who shape the future of our nation.”
House Bill 203, filed by the Makabayan bloc led by Tinio, seeks to increase the minimum salary of public school teachers to P50,000.
The bill recognizes that the current salary structure, starting at around P29,000 for Teacher I positions, is grossly inadequate given the rising cost of food, transportation, housing, and other basic needs.
“Teachers deserve a living wage that reflects their vital role in society and allows them to live with dignity,” Tinio noted.
