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Philippines
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DepEd promotes 3,325 Cebu teachers under new career progression policy
Philippines
National
DepEd promotes 3,325 Cebu teachers under new career progression policy
DepEd promotes 3,325 Cebu teachers under new career progression policy
Published Mar 16, 2026 07:50 pm
Thousands of public school teachers and school heads take their oath during the mass promotion ceremony at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu on March 16, 2026, as part of DepEd’s nationwide career progression reforms. (DepEd photo)
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, March 16, announced that it has promoted 3,325 teachers and school heads in Cebu province, marking a major step in addressing long-standing career stagnation among public school educators.
The mass promotion ceremony was held at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu, where the newly promoted educators took their oaths of office in the presence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.
Among those recognized were 57 veteran educators who had remained at the Teacher I rank for decades and were promoted just before their retirement, finally ending years of delayed career advancement.
In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, who administered the oath, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring teachers are fairly recognized for their service and expertise.
“Following the clear mandate of President Bongbong Marcos to ensure no teacher is left behind, we are ensuring that excellence is rewarded and that no educator is left behind in their professional journey,” Angara said.
“This ceremony validates our commitment to providing every educator with a clear, merit-based path upward, ensuring their professional growth reflects their true value to the nation,” he added.
Career progression reform addresses promotion bottlenecks
DepEd said the promotions were carried out under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system, a policy introduced through Executive Order No. 174, s. 2022.
Under the reform, DepEd said teacher promotions are no longer dependent solely on vacant positions. Instead, educators can advance based on demonstrated proficiency, qualifications, and merit—addressing a long-standing structural issue in the Philippine education system.
For decades, DepEd noted that many teachers remained stuck in entry-level positions due to limited higher-ranked posts, forcing some to retire without receiving a single promotion throughout their careers.
The Cebu ceremony symbolized the government’s effort to dismantle that ceiling and create a clearer career path for public school teachers, DepEd said.
Promotions boost morale and retirement benefits
DepEd highlighted that the mass promotion covers teachers from all 44 municipalities in Cebu, providing both recognition and financial benefits for the educators involved.
For the 57 teachers nearing retirement, DepEd said the promotion means higher pension and retirement benefits, since these are computed based on their final salary grade.
DepEd added that the initiative is also expected to improve morale among educators, many of whom have long called for a fairer promotion system in the public education sector.
Support services offered during ceremony
Aside from the oath-taking, DepEd said teachers attending the event were provided access to skills training and health service booths set up outside the venue.
These services were offered in partnership with the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority through the YAKAP Caravan, which delivers government assistance and services to public sector workers.
Part of national plan to promote 100,000 teachers
The Cebu promotions are part of DepEd’s broader plan to promote at least 100,000 teachers nationwide within the year, aligned with the agency’s 5-Point Reform Agenda aimed at strengthening the education workforce.
DepEd said similar mass promotion ceremonies have been conducted in other regions, including 789 teachers in the Ilocos Region, 2,915 teachers in the National Capital Region, and 1,991 teachers in Central Luzon.
The expanded promotion program, DepEd explained, is intended to recognize teacher excellence, improve career mobility, and strengthen the country’s public education system.