PRESS RELEASE

Rep. Antonio Tinio ACT Teachers Party-list 23 April 2026

P5,000 PERA, grant it now! Tinio presses DBM to raise allowance amid national energy emergency

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, together with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), pressed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) from P2,000 to P5,000 amid the ongoing national energy emergency and rising prices of fuel, food, and basic commodities.

“PERA was last increased in 2009. It’s already 2026 and it’s still stuck at P2,000. Teachers and government employees cannot wait until 2028. PERA must be increased now,” Tinio said.

“Ngayon ang good timing—nahaharap ang mga guro at kawani ng gobyerno sa napakataas na presyo ng langis, pagkain, at iba pang bilihin,” Tinio added.

Tinio underscored that DBM officials themselves have acknowledged the cost of a meaningful increase. During the dialogue, DBM Usec. Rolando Toledo said that P23 billion is needed to raise PERA by P1,000 for all government employees, and that DBM is now looking at whether it can be accommodated in the 2027 budget.

“DBM itself stated that a P1,000 PERA increase will cost P23 billion, and Usec. Toledo admitted they are now looking at 2027—‘titignan po uli namin for 2027 kung maaaccommodate ng fiscal space natin,’” Tinio said. “The question is simple: if the government can find fiscal space for other priorities, why not for frontline public servants who keep schools, hospitals, and public services running?”

“Kung seryoso ang gobyerno sa ‘economic relief,’ huwag gawing kondisyon ang ginhawa sa kung kailan nila gustong maghanap ng fiscal space,” Tinio said. “Ibigay ang makabuluhang dagdag-PERA at simulan sa agarang hakbang patungo sa P5,000.”

ACT also reported that it has gathered 26,000 signatures for its petition calling for a PERA increase, reflecting the growing clamor of teachers and government employees for immediate relief.

“Listen to teachers and government workers. Grant the P5,000 PERA now,” Tinio said. “Real relief cannot be postponed while prices keep rising every week.” ###