MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / July 17, 2013) – The Alliance of Concerned Teachers has criticized a senior Filipino education officials over a controversial statement that was left a bad impression on public school teachers.
Education Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo has said that “It’s just fitting to reward teachers who perform, because in the past, without the PBB, teachers tend not to perform. Unlike now, when you perform, you will be rewarded.”
PBB refers to Performance-Based Bonus system which is a merit-based incentive program that recognizes and rewards exemplary performance in government. It was launched last year and it aims to improve the delivery of goods and services to all Filipinos, as well as institute a culture of excellence in public service across the bureaucracy.
The group is demanding a public apology from Mateo and called on the official to be more cautious in issuing such statements because it is so insulting to professional teachers.
“We are angered by his statement. Is Assistant Secretary Mateo saying that, we teachers are not performing well? That we, teachers tend not to perform our duties? That the P5, 000 cut on our Christmas Bonus last year is because we do not deserve it due to our poor output and performance? This is a clear underestimation of our vocation as teachers. We demand a public apology from Assistant Mateo on this matter,” ACT Chairperson Benjamin Valbuena said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
ACT also dared Mateo to teach in a public school to experience and to understand the realities and sacrifices of teachers so that he will be cautious in his public statements.
“We don’t understand where Assistant Secretary Mateo got his litany. Despite government neglect on overcrowded classrooms, incomplete teaching guides and materials, delayed salaries, no sick leave and no overtime pay, we teachers manage to perform our best and painstakingly overcome these obstacles that hound the bureaucracy,” Valbuena said.
In November last year, ACT also denounced President Benigno Aquino’s Executive Order No. 80 or the adoption of the Performance-based Incentive System (PBIS) saying that this is a “divide and rule tactic” by the administration to pacify the call of teachers and employees for a salary increase .
The group fears that it will worsen the discrimination in the ranks of teachers because of unequal benefits based on subjective evaluation of school performance.
“We deserve more through an increase in our basic pay not on a scheme like PBB which is deceptive and divisive. We shall re-launch our campaign for a salary increase,” Valbuena said.
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