PBBM leads mass oathtaking of newly-promoted teachers, school heads of Cebu

CEBU CITY -- President Fredinand Marcos, Jr. officiated the mass oathtaking of newly-promoted teachers and school heads of the 44 municipalities Cebu Province with DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and Cebu governor, Pamela Baricuatro held at the IEC Convention Center, Cebu City.

In his speech, PBBM said that this ceremony reflects the teachers’ commitment to shaping young minds, strengthening their character, and guiding them towards a brighter, more progressive future.

“More than just an individual milestone, this promotion sends a message of hope and inspiration to thousands of teachers and principals who aspire to follow in your footsteps.  This occasion also signifies this Administration’s deep appreciation for the work that you do and our commitment to ensure that our teachers continue to receive the support and recognition that you all deserve,” Marcos said.

The President bared that for years, the Philippine educational system did not have higher positions and clear pathways for advancement, many public-school teachers had very limited opportunities for promotion.

“It took 10 to 20 years for a teacher to progress from Teacher I to Teacher III. Iyong nakasama po natin 30 taon naghintay, ang iba decades – three decades. And another equally lengthy period to move from Teacher III to Master Teacher I.  Because of this, many educators left and pursued administrative positions to receive higher compensation,” Marcos noted.

The Expanded Career Progression System and teachers’ welfare

Marcos added that to overcome these hurdles, the government implemented the Expanded Career Progression or ECP System for public school teachers, institutionalizing this reform in September 2025.  “I did this by signing into law the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and the School Leaders Act,” the president added.

Under the ECP System, the teachers now have two clear pathways for advancement: Classroom Teaching and School Administration. More importantly, it created many positions such as Teacher IV to VII, Master Teacher V to VI, and School Principal V, providing teachers a clear career path and more opportunities.

Through reclassification, from August of 2025 to February 2026, the government has successfully promoted nearly 19,500 teachers and school heads all over the country. Today, in Cebu, Marcos bared that more than 300 teachers and principals, including 57 teachers who are about to retire.

“We also implemented several programs to promote teachers’ welfare. We have created over 61,500 teaching positions from 2022 to 2025. As of January 2026, 97 percent of these positions have already been filled,” PBBM revealed.

He said, to address the administrative burdens that are being placed on teachers, the government created non-teaching positions: 23,500 Administrative Officer (AO) II positions and 1,500 Project Development Officer I (PO) positions during the same period and as of January, this year, almost 100 percent of these positions have already also been filled.

Starting School Year of last year until 2026, the government also released the full PhP10,000 teaching allowance, the president said.  All of this has opened new doors for career advancement for teachers and for school personnel, the government is addressing long-standing barriers to professional growth, strengthening morale within our education sector, Marcos added. (Photos: Sec.Angara Facebook/Google Images)