President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over the oath-taking of 2,121 newly promoted teachers and principals in Eastern Visayas on Wednesday, underscoring his administration’s commitment to addressing long-standing career advancement challenges in the education sector.
The ceremony, held at the Tacloban City Convention Center, was facilitated by the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System, which aims to improve retention and motivation among public school educators. Of the promotions, 1,679 were granted under the ECP track, while 442 followed the traditional promotion system.
In addition, 26 veteran teachers and two returning overseas Filipino educators were honored under the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” program.
Marcos acknowledged the difficulties faced by teachers, particularly the limited promotion opportunities that often push them to leave classroom roles for administrative posts in pursuit of higher pay.
Since the ECP framework was introduced in August 2025, more than 65,000 teachers and school leaders nationwide have received promotions, including higher-ranking positions from Teacher IV to Teacher VII and beyond.
The President reaffirmed his dedication to ensuring career advancement for educators, declaring:
“Mas malinaw na ang landas ninyo. Hindi na kailangang maghintay nang matagal para umasenso.”
He emphasized that no teacher should retire at the entry-level position of Teacher I, stressing the importance of clearer career pathways.
To further support educators, the administration has introduced measures such as creating additional teaching and non-teaching positions to ease administrative burdens, alongside the full release of the ₱10,000 teaching supply allowance for School Year 2025–2026.