Cebu mass promotion ends decades of teacher career stagnation

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CEBU CITY, 16 March 2026 — For 57 aging educators in Cebu, the “Teacher 1” label that had defined their entire professional lives finally disappeared on Monday— just before they were set to end their service for good.



They were among the 3,325 dedicated teachers and school heads from across the province who took their oaths of office in a mass promotion ceremony at the IEC Convention Center Cebu, marking a decisive end to the systemic promotion delays that have long plagued the country’s education system.

The event, witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, served as a direct response to the President’s directive to dismantle the promotion ceiling that forced many Filipino teachers to retire at the same entry-level rank they held as new hires.



To address this, the Department of Education (DepEd) has accelerated the implementation of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system under the President’s Executive Order No. 174 s. 2022. The new policy ensures that promotion is no longer vacancy-based but triggered by a teacher’s actual proficiency and merit.



Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who administered the oath to the newly-promoted educators, emphasized that the promotion of the 57 retirable personnel under ECP was not a mere gesture of gratitude but a long-overdue recognition of their unwavering dedication to the country’s youth.



"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 a clear, merit-based path upward, ensuring their professional growth reflects their true value to the nation.”



The mass promotion covers all 44 municipalities in Cebu, providing a significant morale boost to the province’s teaching force. For those nearing retirement, the rank adjustment means not only a long-overdue sense of dignity but also a substantial increase in their retirement benefits.



During the event, the teachers also had access to on-site training and health services through the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and YAKAP Caravan booths that were set up outside the venue.



The oath-taking ceremony forms part of DepEd’s broader effort to promote 100,000 teachers within the year— directly supporting the 5-Point Reform Agenda’s pillar on strengthening the education workforce system.



The event follows successful mass promotions across the country led by President Marcos with Secretary Angara, including for 789 teachers in the Ilocos Region; 2,915 in the National Capital Region; and 1,991 in Central Luzon.

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