A protest will welcome the opening of classes on Monday with teachers in Negros Occidental joining a nationally-coordinated mass action.

The teachers under the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Western Visayas are calling for an increase in their basic salary from P18,549 to P25,000 per month and that of the non-teaching staff from P9,000 to P15,000 per month.

Gualberto Dajao, ACT regional president, said yesterday that teachers will wear black arm bands at the start of class, as a sign of mourning over their fate under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

While millions of pesos were lost from the budget of the government, still there has been no increase in the salaries given to the teachers, he said.

The increases in salaries being demanded by the teachers are stipulated in House Bill 245 authored by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio in the House of Representatives, a press release from ACT-Western Visayas said.

The ACT leader said that it has been almost four years that there had been no salary increase for public school teachers despite the rising prices of basic commodities and services.

The teachers will assemble in front of the Rizal Elementary School at 5 p.m. on Monday, and will march to the Fountain of Justice at Luzuriaga Street, where a program will be held.

A candle lighting will also follow the program.*SGG

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