Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently reiterated the administration's commitment to prioritizing education as 1,991 public school teachers and leaders in Central Luzon received promotions under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system. The mass oath-taking ceremony was led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and included personnel from Bulacan and Pampanga who were elevated to higher ranks.
According to Philippines News Agency, these promotions highlight the government's ongoing investment in the education sector through funding and structural reforms. President Marcos noted that education will remain a priority throughout his administration. The promotions are part of the nationwide implementation of Republic Act 12288, the Career Progression for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, which was signed into law by Marcos in 2025.
The legislation established a competency-based system that allows educators to advance through classroom teaching or school leadership tracks, providing equivalent salaries and benefits. Nationwide, over 16,000 teachers have already been promoted under the program, with approximately 40,000 more applications under review. The government has allocated over PHP1.34 trillion for education this year, accounting for more than 4 percent of the country's GDP.
In addition to the promotions, President Marcos mentioned initiatives such as the Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) program, which offers healthcare services for teachers, and continued teaching and medical allowances. The Central Luzon promotions follow earlier ceremonies in Ilocos and the National Capital Region as the administration moves forward with the career progression system's nationwide rollout.
During the ceremony, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando discussed education-related programs implemented by the provincial government. He emphasized the partnership with the Department of Education and a recent memorandum of agreement with DepEd and Bulacan State University to provide scholarship grants to 100 public school teachers pursuing master's degrees.
Fernando also praised the Bulacan Polytechnic College for its impressive performance, noting its 80.49 percent passing rate in the September and November 2025 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers, with 33 out of 41 examinees passing successfully.
