Marcos SONA 2024 sparked hope among teachers across the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made bold promises about improving education, solving flooding problems, and raising teachers’ salaries. But now, just one year later, many teachers feel disappointed and unheard. According to the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), the government has failed to deliver.

The Flooding Problem is Getting Worse

After Marcos SONA 2024, the government claimed that over 5,500 flood control projects were finished. But teachers say the reality is different. Even with these projects, flooding has gotten worse—closing schools and making students and teachers suffer.

Benjo Basas, the national chairperson of TDC, said, “Just days after SONA, we saw the opposite of what was promised. Even weak storms caused heavy flooding. Classes were suspended for an entire week in many places.”

Even high areas and mountains are flooding now, according to TDC. So the big question is: Where did the budget for flood control go? And why are communities still drowning in water?

Climate Change Is Real, But Action Is Missing

Climate change is a global issue. We all know the Philippines is one of the most affected countries. But that doesn’t excuse poor planning. The government must act fast to protect schools, homes, and communities from typhoons and heavy rains.

President Marcos said billions would be spent through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to solve flooding. But Basas said that every peso spent should be used properly. It should go to the real goal—keeping people safe from floods.

Schools Are Suffering the Most

It’s not just about wet roads. Flooding is hurting education. When it floods, schools close. Students fall behind. Teachers must adjust their lessons or cancel them altogether. Parents also suffer because their children can’t go to class safely.

“Why are the schools and families always left to fix things themselves?” asked Basas. “The government has the power and the money. Why are we always the ones suffering?”

This shows a huge gap in disaster preparedness. It’s not enough to have a few announcements. The national government must lead clearly and strongly. Local governments need support and clear rules, especially when it comes to class suspensions and safety.

Confusion Between DepEd and LGUs

One of the biggest issues during recent floods was confusion over who decides when to suspend classes. The Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) kept pointing fingers.

This confusion hurts everyone—teachers, students, and parents. There must be one clear system for making decisions during bad weather. The government needs to fix this now before more storms come.

Broken Promises on Teacher Salaries

During Marcos SONA 2024, the President also promised to take care of teachers. But the TDC says teachers are still waiting for action.

Here’s what the TDC is fighting for:

• Higher salaries for public school teachers
• Job security for private school teachers
• Books for every subject and grade level (K to 12)
• Enough classrooms and working toilets
• Better insurance through GSIS
• Legal help for teachers
• Laptops for every teacher
• A simple and fair system for promotions

These are basic needs, not luxuries. Many of these were already promised in past SONAs. But according to the TDC, most are still not happening.

Where is the Education Budget?

The Philippine Constitution clearly says that education should get the biggest share of the national budget. But in the 2025 budget, this was not the case.

TDC leaders are asking: If we truly care about students and the future, why isn’t education a priority?

President Marcos must fix this. If education is not properly funded, it will affect not just students and teachers—but the entire country.

What Teachers Want Now

Here’s a clear list of what teachers are asking from the Marcos administration:

1. Real flood control that works—not just on paper, but in every community.
2. A clear, national system for class suspensions during storms.
3. A big increase in teacher salaries to match inflation and cost of living.
4. A working budget that follows the Constitution and puts education first.
5. Basic classroom needs like toilets, books, and laptops.
6. Job security and legal protection for both public and private school teachers.

These are not new demands. These are promises already made by the government—and still not fulfilled.

Why This Matters to Every Filipino

If schools don’t work, the country can’t move forward. If teachers are stressed, overworked, and underpaid, how can they give their best to students?

Floods, lack of books, low pay—these problems don’t just hurt teachers. They affect students, families, and the nation’s future. Every Filipino should care about this.

We need leadership that listens, acts, and keeps promises. Teachers are not just workers—they’re nation builders. If we ignore their needs, we are ignoring our own future.

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