They are the latest batch to be promoted under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system of the government.
On Wednesday, April 15, 2,121 newly promoted teachers and principals in Eastern Visayas took their oaths at the Tacloban City Convention Center.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the ceremony and underscored the promise of the ECP scheme. “Uulitin ko po, wala ng teacher na mag re-retire na Teacher 1,” he told.
The ECP allows teachers to be promoted based on merit and competencies, rather than waiting for a vacant position, with two distinct career tracks, Classroom Teaching and School Administration, offering clearer pathways for professional growth.
Under the scheme, new positions have also been created, including Teacher IV-VII, Master Teacher V-VI, and School Principal V.
The chief executive also emphasized the importance of educators in the country and noted as he congratulated them, “Ang mga tinuturuan ninyo ngayon ang susunod na mga inhinyero, mga doktor, mga guro, propesyonal, manggagawa, at mga lider ng ating bansa.”
The President also noted how for many years, public school teachers faced many barriers to achieve career growth.
”Our old system did not have the positions and clear pathways for advancement,” Marcos said. “That situation only worsens the shortage of teachers in the country [and] undermines the country’s overall educational system.“
To date, more than 65,000 teachers and school heads have been promoted since August 2025.
“All these promotions are well-deserved and will provide stability for our educators as they advance in their careers. Marami pa po tayong ipo-promote sa mga darating na buwan,” the President said.
For his part, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said, “Para ito sa inyong mga guro dito sa Eastern Visayas na araw-araw nagpapakita ng tatag at malasakit, kahit ilang bagyo na ang dumaan. Kayo ang patunay na tuloy ang laban, tuloy ang turo.”
“Sa pamamagitan ng ECP, winawakasan na natin ang matagal na paghihintay ng ating mga guro para sa promosyon upang mabigyan sila ng tamang antas at sahod na nararapat sa kanilang serbisyo,” he also said.
This year, DepEd targets 100,000 promotions nationwide under the ECP, which allows teachers to advance through classroom teaching or school administration tracks.
Meanwhile, also included in the mass oath-taking were two beneficiaries of the Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) program—an initiative that brings back licensed OFW teachers to teach in public schools in the country.
Beyond promotions, the government also implemented other programs to promote teachers’ welfare.
It includes that the opening and filling of thousands of new teaching positions, the creation of non-teaching positions to ease teachers’ administrative burden, and the release of a full PHP10,000 teaching supply allowance for School Year 2025 to 2026 to provide additional support for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials.