The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Bicol Union has expressed support for Vice Ganda’s recent remarks about a “decaying” public elementary school in Sorsogon, saying the comedian’s observation mirrors the larger crisis in the Philippine public education system.
In a statement released on Thursday, the group said it appreciates Vice Ganda’s concern for teachers and students in far-flung communities, stressing that the conditions he described are “not isolated incidents.”
“The situation mentioned by Vice Ganda is not an isolated case but mirrors the crisis in education that public schools are experiencing, not only in Bicol but across the country,” ACT-Bicol said.
The group cited the chronic shortage of books, chairs, visual aids, and learning equipment, along with damaged classrooms and poor ventilation, as persistent problems that continue to plague many public schools.
ACT-Bicol added that teachers are often forced to shoulder expenses to keep classes going.
“They buy learning materials, print modules using their own money, and conduct classes under difficult conditions,” the group said.
The teachers’ union urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units to create a comprehensive assessment and resource mobilization plan aimed at improving infrastructure and addressing the shortage of school supplies.
However, Bulusan Mayor Wennie Raffalo-Romano disputed Vice Ganda’s remarks, asserting that Bagacay Elementary School—the school referenced in the comedian’s statement—has sufficient learning resources provided by the DepEd through the Project Target Reading initiative launched in May 2023.
Romano also clarified that Vice Ganda had visited the school in September 2023, during which he donated funds that were later used to repair classrooms, renovate a comfort room, and install internet connectivity.
