Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Mass Oathtaking Ceremony of Newly-Promoted Teachers and School Heads of Cebu Province

Maraming salamat sa kalihim ng ating DepEd, Secretary Sonny Angara.

Ang gobernador – gobernadora ng probinsiya, lalawigan ng Cebu, Governor Pam Baricuatro; Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival at ‘yung mga iba’t ibang mayors na nakarating dito, mga nakabisita sa iba’t ibang mga bayan na kasama ang bagong sumpa na ating mga na-promote na teacher; ang opisyales ng DepEd na nandito na kasama natin ngayong araw; siyempre ang pinakamahalaga na bisita na kasama natin ngayong araw na ito, ang ating minamahal na Expanded Career Progression o ECP Teacher; ang ating mga kasamahan sa pag-serbisyo-publiko.

Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

Maayong adlaw kaninyong tanan! [crowd responded] Para akong teacher, sabay-sabay talaga ang sagot.

Anyway, ako ay – napakasaya nito nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makasama kayo dito sa lalawigan ng Cebu, lalong-lalo na dahil sa okasyong ito.

So I congratulate the newly promoted teachers and principals from 44 municipalities of Cebu Province.

This ceremony reflects your commitment to shaping young minds, strengthening their character, and guiding them towards a brighter, more progressive future.

More than just an individual milestone, this promotion sends a message of hope and inspiration to thousands of teachers and principals who aspire to follow in your footsteps.

This occasion also signifies this Administration’s deep appreciation for the work that you do and our commitment to ensure that our teachers continue to receive the support and recognition that you all deserve.

This commitment becomes even more important today as we confront the pressing challenges in our educational system.

According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education, for years, many public school teachers had very limited opportunities for promotion. The system that we have did not have higher positions and clear pathways for advancement.

It took 10 to 20 years for a teacher to progress from Teacher I to Teacher III. Iyong nakasama po natin 30 taon naghintay, ang iba decades – three decades. And another equally lengthy period to move from Teacher III to Master Teacher I.

Because of this, many educators left and pursued administrative positions to receive higher compensation. At worst, they left the teaching profession altogether to find better opportunities elsewhere. And this aggravates the shortage that we have of teachers in the Philippines.

So, to overcome these hurdles, we implemented the Expanded Career Progression or ECP System for public school teachers. We have institutionalized this reform in September 2025. I did this by signing into law the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and the School Leaders Act. [applause]

Under this new system, this ECP System, the teachers now have two clear pathways for advancement: Classroom Teaching and School Administration. Pinaghiwalay na natin ‘yan. More importantly, it created many positions such as Teacher IV to VII, Master Teacher V to VI, and School Principal V, providing our teachers a clear career path and more opportunities.

Through reclassification, from August of 2025 to February 2026, we have successfully promoted nearly 19,500 teachers and school heads all over the country. [applause]

Today, here in Cebu – sinasabi ko nga kay Sec. Sonny pagpasok ko rito marami-rami yata itong nandito. Today we are promoting more than 3,000 of you – 3,300 teachers and principals, [applause] including the 57 Teacher I retirable teachers.

Busa, wala na’y teacher na mag-retire ng Teacher I.

We also implemented several programs to promote teachers’ welfare. We have created over 61,500 teaching positions from 2022 to 2025. As of January 2026, 97 percent of these positions have already been filled.

To address the administrative burdens that are being placed on teachers, we created non-teaching positions: 23,500 Administrative Officer (AO) II positions and 1,500 Project Development Officer (PO) I positions during the same period.

As of January of this year, almost 100 percent of these positions have already also been filled. [applause]

And starting School Year of last year until 2026, we released the full PhP10,000 teaching allowance also. [applause]

All of this has opened new doors for career advancement for teachers and for school personnel, we are addressing long-standing barriers to professional growth, strengthening morale within our education sector.

Kung dati po, may pangamba kayo na matatapos ang mahabang panahon ng serbisyo, hindi kayo mapo-promote. Ngayon, mas malinaw na ang landas ng pag-unlad sa inyong propesyon.

Marami sa inyo ang naglaan ng buong buhay sa pagtuturo. Gumigising ng madaling-araw, natutulog ng hating-gabi upang turuan, gabayan, at hubugin ang kabataang Pilipino.

Bukod pa riyan, kayo rin ang inaasahan ng gobyerno upang tumulong sa mga programa, sa mga activities tulad ng eleksiyon, programa sa kalusugan, marami pang iba.

Para sa inyo, ang pagiging guro ay hindi trabaho, ito ay bokasyon, isang sagradong tungkulin para sa inyo.

Kaya’t kakaiba talaga ang titser sa ibang klaseng trabaho sa ibang klaseng public servant. [applause]

Lagi kong sinasabi at napuna ko ito noong governor ako, sabi ko ang pinakamasipag talaga na public servant ay ang ating mga guro. [applause] Dahil bukod sa inyong trabaho sa eskuwelahan na inaalalayan, inaalagaan, tinuturuan ang ating mga kabataan, na napakahalagang trabaho, lahat ng ibang trabaho kailangan din kayo ang gagawa. Kayo ang mag… Iyon na nga ang sinasabi ko, kayo ang gumagawa ng tone-toneladang pansit para magpakain doon sa mga bisita. Kayo ‘yung mga nasusugatan na ‘yung mga daliri sa kaka-thumbtacks doon sa mga ano tablecloth para may magandang uupuan ang ating mga bisita. Kayo ang nagbubuo ng mga program pagka may graduation, kayo rin ang gagawa; kapag may festival; kapag may anniversary, kayo ang gagawa; ‘pag may foundation day, kayo ang gagawa.

Lahat. Sabi ko wala naman sa… Iyong mga pinupuntahan kong ibang bansa, wala ka namang nakikitang ganoon. Dito talaga sa Pilipinas iba ang mga ma’am at saka mga sir, ang ating mga teacher natin. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong serbisyo. [applause]

Dahil dito, napakalaki ang paghanga at respeto ko sa inyo.

Sana’y makatulong ang mga oportunidad na ito na mapabuti ang buhay ninyo at ng inyong mga pamilya.

We also recognize the newly promoted personnel of the SDO Cebu Province, I encourage everyone to continue serving as an example to educators around the world. Lead with empathy. Teach with skill and compassion. Live with integrity.

Nasa inyong mga kamay hinuhubog ang mga susunod na lider: ang ating mga siyentista, mga doktor, mga manggagawa, at lingkod-bayan ng ating bansa.

Guide our youth as they continue to learn more about themselves, as they expand their horizons, and they reach their fullest potential.

Together, let us shape a Bagong Pilipinas where teachers are valued, students are fully supported, and communities are empowered through education.

Daghang salamat!

Mabuhay ang ating mga guro!

At mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! [applause]

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