President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed on Monday, April 27, that the government’s drive to eliminate career stagnation in the education sector has already resulted in the promotion of 79,230 public school teachers and school heads nationwide.
Speaking at the Villareal Stadium during an oath-taking ceremony for newly promoted educators in Western Visayas, the President highlighted the rapid progress of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System since its implementation in August 2025.
“Simula noong Agosto 2025 hanggang ngayon, halos walumpung libong teacher – 79,230 teachers at school head sa buong bansa ay na-promote na sa ilalim nitong ECP System,” Marcos stated.
The President, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, emphasized that the initiative fulfills a commitment made during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to provide teachers with a clear and dignified professional path.
He specifically addressed the long-standing issue of “bottlenecks” that saw many educators stuck in entry-level positions for decades.
“Hindi pa rin ‘to natatapos, gaya ng… Dahil po tinuloy – ipinangako ko sa inyo ito noong aking SONA, at kailangan natin ipatupad ang mga napakahalagang pangako na ating binigay sa inyo,” the President said, assuring the audience that more appointments are currently being processed.
Under the ECP System, teachers are given the opportunity to advance in rank and salary while remaining in the classroom, a shift intended to retain high-quality instructors who might otherwise move into administrative roles or leave the profession for better pay.
Marcos expressed a firm stance against the historical trend of teachers ending their careers without significant advancement.
“Kaya’t sinabi ko, hindi na tayo papayag na mayroong guro na magre-retire na Teacher I. Dahil hindi naman talaga tama yun,” he added.
In Western Visayas alone, approximately 8,500 personnel benefited from this latest wave of promotions, including 124 veteran teachers who are approaching retirement age.
This rollout aligns with the Department of Education’s broader objectives. Earlier this year, Education Secretary Sonny Angara set a target of 100,000 promotions for the year, identifying career stagnation as a primary cause of teacher attrition.
By streamlining the climb up the professional ladder, the administration aims to bolster morale and stabilize the country’s public school system.