Philippines teachers face workload reforms amid budget disputes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pledged to reduce the administrative workload for teachers in the Philippines to allow more focus on students. Key measures include reducing classroom observations from four per school year to one for the 2025–2026 school year, with a limit of two in subsequent years. The administration is also working to expedite the release of the 2024 Performance-Based Bonus and providing various medical and teaching allowances.

Simultaneously, educators are raising concerns regarding the 2027 national budget. ACT Teachers Party-List Representative Antonio Tinio criticized proposed amendments totaling approximately ₱77.86 billion for various government assistance programs, arguing these funds could instead address long-standing demands for higher salaries. Tinio specifically questioned why a proposed ₱500 increase in the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) remains unfunded while billions are allocated to discretionary programs for health, social welfare, and agriculture.