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)

 

 

 

PBBM inspects, leads turnover of Learning Continuity Space in Cebu

BOGO CITY -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with Education Secretary Sonny Angara, led the turnover and inspection on Monday, March 16 of the Learning Continuity Space (LCS) at the Marcelo B. Fernan-Polambato Elementary School in Bogo City, Cebu as part of government initiatives to support learning continuity following the devastating September 2025 earthquake in Cebu province.

The modular classrooms, costing approximately P1.65 million each, were designed to protect students and teachers and can withstand extraordinary conditions and each LCS can accommodate 40 students.

Built using durable steel structures, the LCS is equipped with a solar power supply, an Internet connection, and a comfort room in every unit, according to its proponents, Internet connectivity is important for children’s digital learning and for ensuring easy access to other online educational resources.

Aside from inspecting the LCS at the Marcelo B. Fernan-Polambato Elementary School, President Marcos also led the rollout of the YAKAP at Kalinga Caravan during the visit.  The initiatives support learning continuity and provide primary healthcare services to students, teachers, and the local community. (Photos: RTVM/Google Images)

ALS gives hope to out-of-school youth

ALS gives hope to out-of-school youth, adults
MINERVA BC NEWMAN

 
CEBU CITY – Shaihana Bonso from Concepcion, Iloilo City married and became a mother at 17 and had to forego further studies to take care of her child.  At that early age, Shaihana and her husband, a motorcycle driver knew the challenges they would face to raise a child. 

Now at 19, she believed though that completing her studies would be her ticket to get employed to augment the family income and to provide their child a brighter future.

“Going back to school today is close to impossible. With the advancement in technology, almost all our output is done using a computer and I can’t afford to pay for school fees,” she shared.

In December 2017, with the help of a friend, she enlisted for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Shaihana was pleasantly surprised to know that there is such an alternative schooling for people like her and those young adults who are out-of-school and just looking for chances to go back to study at their own specific qualifications and pace.

According to DepEd-7 regional information officer Amaryllis Villarmia ALS has helped 59,009 out-of-school youths and adults’ enrollees in Central Visayas.  ALS has opened numerous opportunities to people like Shaihana who have limited or no access to formal basic education.

Villarmia said ALS teachers are called learning facilitators or mobile teachers including volunteers.  They bring literacy, basic education and useful knowledge to the deprived and underprivileged Filipinos at the grassroots level who were not given the opportunity to join formal education.

“We are always grateful to individuals and institutions that donate equipment, materials and services specifically for the use of the ALS because these are more “personalized” kind of teaching and learning,” Villarmia added.

City Savings Bank (CSB) is one institution whose advocacy had seen the gaps in ALS implementation among its mobile teachers and some volunteers and for the ALS students too.  The bank has donated IT equipment to the various DepEd divisions nationwide. 

CSB Reputation Management Head, Paula Ruelan told Manila Bulletin that the bank’s advocacy started in 2016 when ALS teachers were included in the rooster of “Outstanding Educators” recognized by CSB during its 50th year anniversary.

Ruelan said their stories were heartwarming.  “They often brave rough roads, hike mountains or cross rivers to reach far-flung communities where they teach. They dedicate their time to fulfill their mission and help their students achieve their dreams in life,” Ruelan shared.

Ruelan said that since 2016, City Savings Bank had donated P10.6 million worth of IT equipment composed of 259 laptops and 243 LCD projectors to 128 DepEd division from regions 1 to 13 excluding NCR.

 In 2017, Ruelan bared that CSB donated laptops and projectors for the use of 900 ALS mobile teachers in the Mindanao area and in 2018, it gave 5 laptops and 5 LCD projectors each for Cebu and Dumaguete areas.

The tools hope to provide assistance to over 4,500 mobile teachers and their students across the Philippines.  The donations are given to DepEd at the division level because ALS mobile teachers don’t have schools, they only have classes wherever there are out-of-school youth and adults in communities, Ruelan noted.

“On its third year of advocating for literacy, the bank has moved past inspiration into actively helping build communities where every child, parent, out of school youth has access to opportunities to elevate their lives and fulfill their dreams through education,” Ruelan added.

Shajhana is now thrilled more than ever to visit their local ALS center to learn more. She has set her mind towards getting her diploma soon and most importantly become a good role model for her child and her family.

Her story is just one of the several stories of hope and City Savings Bank continues to focus on driving change for a better world through education as its corporate social responsibility (CSR) advocacy to benefit the less privileged lot in the communities nationwide, Ruelan said. (Minerva BC Newman)