ROXAS CITY, Capiz — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare and professional development of educators during a mass oath-taking ceremony for over 8,000 newly promoted teachers and school heads in Western Visayas on Monday, April 27, 2026.
Speaking at the Villareal Stadium, the President highlighted the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system as a cornerstone of his education agenda, aimed at fixing decades of stagnant promotions in the public school system.
President Marcos emphasized that the government is moving beyond rhetoric to provide “dignity and a future” to the teaching profession:
- The “Teacher I” Vow: The President reiterated a central promise of his term: “We will never allow a teacher to retire as Teacher I. Because that is simply not right.”
- Career Advancement: He noted that the ECP system allows teachers to advance their careers—and salaries—based on merit and competence, rather than waiting for a vacancy in administrative or higher-level roles.
- National Impact: Since August 2025, a total of 79,230 educators nationwide have benefited from promotions under the ECP. In Western Visayas alone, over 8,500 were promoted, including 124 veteran teachers nearing retirement.
“Expect, ma’ams and sirs, that your government will not stop taking action to ensure that you are cared for, given opportunities to develop, and recognized for your service,” Marcos told the crowd.
[Image: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressing over 8,000 teachers during the mass oath-taking ceremony at Villareal Stadium in Capiz]
The event was also attended by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who detailed how these reforms are being institutionalized:
- Expanded Ranks: The creation of new plantilla positions, including Teacher IV to VII and Master Teacher V, ensures a clear upward trajectory for classroom-focused educators.
- Unloading Workload: Secretary Angara noted ongoing efforts to hire more administrative and non-teaching personnel to allow teachers to focus strictly on student instruction.
- Financial Support: The administration recently authorized a P10,000 teaching supply allowance for the 2025-2026 school year to help offset out-of-pocket classroom expenses.
The President also touched upon the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) program, a joint initiative with the Department of Migrant Workers. The program encourages licensed Filipino teachers working abroad as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to return to the Philippines by offering them guaranteed positions in the public school system.
Closing his speech, the President thanked the educators for their role as the “molders of the youth’s minds,” particularly in an increasingly complex and digital world. He described their influence as “irreplaceable,” regardless of the rise of AI and classroom technology.