Senator Christopher “Bong” Gon on Sunday, June 26 said he is confident that Executive Order 174 which President Duterte recently issued would help ensure that Filipino students have access to quality education even under the “new normal.”

EO 174, which establishes the expanded career progression system for public school teachers, primarily seeks to “promote professional development and career advancements among public school teachers, and define the career lines of teachers within the public school system.”

The new EO encourages public school teachers to advance in their careers by establishing new position titles with associated salary grades.

Go noted that in order to increase chances for professional development and career advancement for public school teachers, their career progression system has to be enhanced.

“As the nation confronts the COVID-19 pandemic and the educational system adjusts to the new normal, our teachers' crucial responsibility in guaranteeing the ongoing delivery of learning has become even more difficult,” Go said in a statement.

“Nararapat lamang po na maglatag tayo ng mga polisiya na layuning suportahan ang kanilang propesyon at magbibigay sa kanila ng oportunidad upang mas pagbutihin ang kanilang papel bilang tagahubog ng kaisipan ng ating mga kabataan (It is only fitting to lay down policies that would support their profession and provide them more opportunties to improve their role in forming the minds of our youth),” the senator said.

Under the EO, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is tasked to create the additional position titles of Teacher 4, 5, 6 and 7, as well as Master Teacher 5. Likewise, School Principal 1, 2, 3 and 4 are added to the career line of school administrators.

The Civil Service Commission's (CSC) minimal requirements and qualifications must be met in order to advance to the Master Teacher I and School Principal I posts.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has been “jubilant” about the timely issuance of the EO, as they sought to have new teaching levels to expand promotional opportunities for teachers since March.

Go said he has long been advocating for the welfare of the country’s teachers saying he has been prodding the national government to provide additional support for public school teachers, taking into account the hardships they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawmaker also mentioned the difficulties that teachers are having with the blended learning approach that is being implemented while face-to-face classes are still limited.

Go said it is imperative for the government to find ways on how it can ramp up support for the country’s education sector.

“Kung gusto nating umunlad, dapat bigyan natin ng malaking importansya ang kapakanan ng mga guro para maisaayos ang pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan, lalo na sa literacy at numeracy (If we really want to grow, we need to give huge importance to the welfare of our teachers so we can also improve our youth’s learning, especially in literacy and numeracy),” Go stressed.