Better pay, career opportunities await teachers in 2027

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Honoring the sacrifices of those who educate the Filipino youth, the teachers remain at the center of the Marcos Jr. administration’s push towards improving the education system.

This, as public school teachers are set to benefit from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed P975.96 billion budget for 2027, a 5.11% increase compared to its 2026 budget allocation.

Among the key components of the P975 billion budget is as follows:

• P61.02 billion (personnel services)
• P38.78 billion (benefits under Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, other personnel benefits)

1. P25.04 billion (Personnel Economic Relief Allowance [PERA])
2. P5.80 billion (Special Hardship Allowance)
3. P648.10 million (teaching overload honoraria)
4. P7.30 billion (up to P7,000 medical allowance for qualified civilian personnel)

• P12.09 billion (Expanded Career Progression [ECP] Program)
• P10.36 billion (P10,000 annual Teaching Allowance for around 1.03 million teaching and teaching-related positions nationwide)
• P3.02 billion (proposed training of DepEd personnel)

1. P1.86 billion (in-service training, other learning and development interventions)
2. P840.59 million (creation of 2,135 additional positions such as School Principal I, Project Development Officer I, and Administrative Officer II)

Among the most immediate benefits in 2027 is the fourth tranche of the salary adjustment under Executive Order No. 64, which translates to an average increase of around 5% in the monthly compensation of government workers, including public school teachers.

For instance, a Teacher I at Salary Grade 11 will receive a monthly basic salary increase from P31,705 in 2026 to P33,387 in 2027.

Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon expounded, “Mas may pinakamataas na increase actually ay nasa range ng salary grade 11, 12, 13 kasi sila ang pinakamaraming sa bureaucracy at talagang ramdam na ramdam ito ng ating mga teachers kasi yun yung bulto ng mga items ng ating mga Teachers 1, 2, and 3.”

Moreover, through the ECP Program, the government seeks to address the lack of career growth opportunities for some teachers and teaching-related positions, with 135,000 educators set to rise up the career ladder in 2027.

All of these budget items complement other important reforms such as construction of additional classrooms and school facilities, enhancing security in campuses, and addressing the shortage of textbooks for learners.

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