Marcos attends oath-taking of newly-promoted teachers in Eastern Visayas

A total of 2,121 public school teachers and school heads in Eastern Visayas formally took their oath on Wednesday following their promotion under the government’s Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremony at the Tacloban City Astrodome, where Education Secretary Sonny Angara administered the oath of office.

According to the Department of Education, most of the promotions were granted through the ECP system, while others were the result of natural vacancies in schools across the region.

Angara said the program aims to address long-standing limitations in teacher promotion pathways.

“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,” he said.

(This is for teachers in Eastern Visayas who show resilience and compassion everyday despite repeated challenges. You are proof that the work continues, and so does teaching.)

“Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Marcos, sisiguraduhin natin na bawat guro, may sapat na oportunidad at mas maayos na kinabukasan,” he added.

(Under the Marcos administration, we will ensure that every teacher has sufficient opportunities and a better future.)

He also noted that the ECP system is intended to reduce delays in promotions that previously kept some teachers in entry-level positions for extended periods.

“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,” Angara said.

(Through the ECP, we are ending the long wait for teacher promotions so they can receive the rank and salary appropriate to their service.)

During the ceremony, 26 long-serving teachers with 12 to 39 years in service were also recognized, with officials noting that their promotions would allow them to receive higher benefits prior to retirement.

The DepEd added that two of those promoted were beneficiaries of the “Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) program, which seeks to reintegrate licensed overseas Filipino teachers into the public school system.

The oath-taking covered those from Teacher I to VII and School Principal I to IV positions, in line with Executive Order No. 174, series of 2022, which expanded career ranks for educators.

DepEd said it is targeting up to 100,000 promotions nationwide this year under the ECP, with advancement tracks available in both classroom teaching and school administration. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA News