The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has set aside ₱12 billion in the proposed 2027 national budget for the Expanded Career Progression program for public school teachers, double the ₱6 billion allocated this year. fulfilling President Marcos’ directive that no teacher should retire at Teacher I, Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said Saturday.
De Leon made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on September 5, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series featuring the DBM.
The President’s Budget chief said the ₱12 billion will fund the promotion of approximately 135,000 teachers in 2027, covering the full Expanded Career Progression ladder from Teacher I through Teacher VII and up to Master Teacher level.
“Napakalinaw. Una, walang magre-retire na teacher na Teacher 1. Kaya ₱12 billion ang nailagay. Doble ‘yan nung provision natin ngayong 2026, dahil ngayong 2026 we are just about at 6 billion yung provision natin for the ECP,” De Leon said.
De Leon explained that the old teacher career ladder only ran from Teacher I to Teacher III, meaning many teachers spent their entire careers without a single promotion despite decades of service.
“Sa kasamaang-palad, merong mga teacher na nakakapag-retire na Teacher I pa rin. So sa ilalim nung bagong polisiya under the Expanded Career Progression, nailatag yung additional na mga positions para sa ating mga teachers: Teacher IV, V, VI, hanggang VII,” he said.
Alongside the career progression fund, the 2027 budget also includes almost ₱1 billion for the creation of new teaching and non-teaching positions, covering school guidance counselors and administrative officers who will handle HR, procurement, and administrative functions so teachers can focus on actual teaching.
“Meron pa rin tayong suporta na nakalaan sa ating 2027 budget, almost about ₱1 billion, para sa creation of additional teaching and non-teaching positions,” De Leon said.
He said the combined package, which includes promotions, new positions, salary increase, teaching allowance, and training funds, represents the most comprehensive budget support for public school teachers in the Marcos administration’s history.
