By Brian Campued
“Our commitment to creating a system that protects and empowers teachers remains steadfast.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to expand career paths for educators as he witnessed the mass oath-taking of 2,915 newly promoted teachers and school heads from the National Capital Region.
In a speech at the ceremony at the Makati Coliseum, the President acknowledged the sacrifices of teachers and described their much-deserved recognition as a “doorway to a better life” that can help them become financially stable.
“You carry a big responsibility every single day, inside the classrooms and always extending way beyond school hours. Batid ko po ang bigat ng inyong tungkulin… And for that, this nation is grateful to you all,” he said.
“The government duly recognizes your efforts, and that’s why it has to be met with tangible support,” the Chief Executive added, citing the allocation of over P1.34 trillion to the education sector this 2026.
He also noted the release of the 2025 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for teachers and non-teaching staff, the P10,000 teaching allowance for School Year 2025-2026, and the guidelines for the grant of a P7,000 medical allowance.
The President likewise stressed that the government is working to create additional teaching positions, reduce paperwork, and ensure no public school teacher retires as Teacher I.
“We will expand our educators’ career paths through strategic reclassification. By creating higher-level positions, senior educators can move up based on merit and open new entry positions to new graduates,” he said.
“We hope to help you achieve greater financial stability and the much-deserved recognition for your very, very hard work. Beyond these benefits and changes, our commitment to creating a system that protects and empowers teachers remains steadfast,” he added.
The “RISE (Resilience, Integrity, Service, and Excellence) in Service” oath-taking ceremony was facilitated by Department of Education (DepEd) Sec. Sonny Angara, who touted the administration’s full support of educational reforms that uplift the teaching profession.
“Sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, inuuna natin ang guro—hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa malinaw na reporma na nagbibigay ng dignidad, pag-angat, at kinabukasan sa propesyon ng pagtuturo,” Angara said.
According to DepEd, out of the total promoted personnel in NCR, at least 2,186 advanced through natural vacancies, while 729 were promoted under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) reclassification framework.
The educators were promoted to higher career stages, including Teacher III to VII, Master Teacher II to V, and Principal II to IV positions.
Anchored on the Career Progression for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act of 2025 and the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers, the promotions allow qualified educators to move up based on merit and readiness without being limited solely by vacant plantilla positions.
Before concluding his speech, the President urged educators to continue teaching the youth not only academic lessons but also values that shape their lives, such as integrity, responsibility and love of country.
“Many of our country’s problems today cannot be remedied by laws or by policies alone. They require discipline, they require honesty, and compassion—values that, while first nurtured within the Filipino home, are further shaped and strengthened in our schools by you, our teachers,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Mga minamahal kong mga guro, sa inyong mga kamay nakasalalay ang susunod na henerasyon ng Pilipino. On behalf of the Filipino people, thank you for choosing to build a nation with us through this noble profession,” he added.
-jpv
