CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Instead of celebration, frustration marked the 60th anniversary of Republic Act 4670, or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, as educators in Central Luzon staged a symbolic protest highlighting decades of unfulfilled promises.
Members of the Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT) Central Luzon Union sang “Happy Birthday,” blew out candles, and presented the law with a senior citizen’s ID—a pointed reminder that six decades have passed since its enactment, yet many of its key provisions remain unimplemented.
In a symbolic gesture, the group prepared a money cake. But when teachers pulled out the paper slips, instead of cash, they found reminders of broken promises: no additional salary adjustments, no free hospitalization, and no implementation of the “one rank higher” benefit upon retirement.
According to ASSERT, teachers bear the full cost of their medical expenses without government assistance. The “no work, no pay” policy applies even when they are absent due to illness, effectively penalizing teachers for getting sick.
“Our workloads continue to increase, but our salaries do not,” the group stated, adding that teachers are overwhelmed with non-teaching tasks, reports, clerical work, and other administrative burdens that detract from their primary educational mission.
The union argues that the quality of education cannot improve while teachers remain overburdened and undercompensated.
The government has consistently cited budget constraints, pointing to the large number of public school teachers as a reason benefits cannot be funded. But ASSERT says that excuse no longer holds water.
“We used to accept that reasoning, but since the flood control scandal broke—where billions of pesos were lost to corruption—we will no longer accept the answer that the government cannot afford it,” said Arlene James Pagaduan, president of ASSERT Central Luzon Union.
Pagaduan called for funds lost to corruption to be redirected toward education and teachers’ benefits. “Why not channel what is being wasted on corruption into proper service for teachers?” he asked.
ASSERT vowed to continue lobbying until all provisions of the Magna Carta are fully implemented nationwide.
“Sixty years of waiting is enough,” the group declared, invoking the principle: “Rights delayed, rights denied.”
