Teachers denounce cut in clothing allowance

Public school teachers condemned yesterday the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) for cutting their yearly clothing allowance by P1,000.

Raymund Villanueva, deputy secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, said that this amount would be a big loss for them, considering the rising cost of clothing.

"We have just observed that the government is cutting down the benefits of teachers, instead of increasing them. This is absurd considering the weakening value of our currency," he noted.

DECS sliced the allowance from P4,000 to P3,000 this year due to lack of funds. This incentive is charged against the department's savings.

Villanueva complained that teachers always serve as the sacrificial lambs of the government whenever it cuts down its expenses.

"After abolishing our amelioration pay, the government has reduced our clothing allowance. What's next? I think this is alarming," he added.

Teachers used to receive P7,000 in annual amelioration pay until it was abolished by President Estrada last year for lack of funds.

The mentors later held a week-long protest action in Malacañang prompting the President to order the release of the benefit even on staggered basis.

According to DECS Undersecretary Victor Andres Manhit, DECS would have to shell out some P450 million to grant P4,000 in clothing allowance to each of the 450,000 public school teachers nationwide.

"Considering that public schools have recurring backlogs in supplies, it is unlikely to have a savings like that," Manhit said.

To compensate for the decrease in clothing allowance, the increase in teachers' salary took effect in January instead of July, the original schedule, he explained.

"As much as we want to increase the salaries and incentives of our teachers, our limited budget does not permit to do so," he added.