PBBM leads mass oath-taking of 2,121 promoted Eastern Visayas teachers

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TACLOBAN CITY, 15 April 2026—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday witnessed the mass oath-taking of 2,121 newly promoted public school teachers and school heads in Eastern Visayas, in another decisive step in uplifting the country’s education workforce.

At the Tacloban City Astrodome, Education Secretary Sonny Angara administered the oath of office to the educators whose career advancements were made possible primarily through the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System, with the remainder through natural vacancies.

Secretary Angara emphasized that these promotions are a direct result of President Marcos’ focus on teacher welfare and professional growth.

“Para ito sa inyong mga guro dito sa Eastern Visayas na araw-araw nagpapakita ng tatag at malasakit, kahit ilang bagyo na ang dumaan. Kayo ang patunay na tuloy ang laban, tuloy ang turo,” Angara said.

“Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Marcos, sisiguraduhin natin na bawat guro, may sapat na oportunidad at mas maayos na kinabukasan.”

He added that the ECP effectively removes the bottlenecks in the Department of Education (DepEd) that previously left thousands of qualified teachers stagnant in entry-level positions for decades.

"Sa pamamagitan ng ECP, winawakasan na natin ang matagal na paghihintay ng ating mga guro para sa promosyon upang mabigyan sila ng tamang antas at sahod na nararapat sa kanilang serbisyo,” said Angara.

The mass oath-taking also carried a poignant note as Angara acknowledged 26 of the longest serving teachers in the region—ranging from 12 to 39 years in service—ensuring they receive the higher rank and benefits they earned throughout their careers before entering retirement.

Angara also said that among the newly promoted were two beneficiaries of the Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir (SPIMS) program—an initiative that reintegrates licensed overseas Filipino worker teachers into the Philippine public school system.

President Marcos together with Angara arrived at the venue after attending the launch of the nationwide Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa National Reintegration Network (NRN) Regional Fairs.

This whole-of-government effort is headlined by the SPIMS program featured in the Balik Turo: A Hero’s Journey Home segment.

The mass oath-taking ceremony recognized the advancement of personnel ranging from Teacher I to VII to School Principals I to IV under Executive Order No. 174 series 2022, which establishes expanded career ranks to provide more advancement opportunities.

This year, DepEd targets 100,000 promotions nationwide under the ECP, which allows educators to advance through either classroom teaching or school administration tracks.

Angara fast-tracks delivery of disaster-resilient classrooms

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MAKATI CITY, 14 April 2026 — Education Secretary Sonny Angara is accelerating the disbursement of funds for Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS), prioritizing the construction of disaster-resilient classrooms in schools with the most urgent needs.



Through the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), the Department of Education (DepEd) aims to address the nationwide classroom backlog with this rapid and cost-efficient solution.



“Bilang tugon sa utos ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, bibilisan natin ang paglalabas ng pondo para sa mga classrooms na kayang tumagal sa sakuna. Ang mahalaga rito, hindi maputol ang pag-aaral ng mga bata,” ani Angara.



“Bahagi ito ng plano ng administrasyong Marcos na siguruhing mabilis makarating ang tulong at mga de-kalidad na pasilidad sa mga lugar na hirap sa kakulangan ng silid-aralan.”



The LCS program has been granted a Php3.5 billion allocation for Fiscal Year 2026 to deliver classrooms to schools dealing with severe shortages, condemned or unsafe structures, or immediate need for learning spaces.



To ensure swift implementation, Angara said DepEd is downloading funds directly to Schools Division Offices (SDO) for immediate procurement and construction.



He emphasized the flexibility of the LCS strategy, noting that sourcing most materials and labor locally makes it easier to adjust to the specific needs of each site.



Except for specialized components like sandwich panels, most materials will be bought from local hardware suppliers, boosting local economies while avoiding logistical delays.



Angara encouraged field offices to replicate the successful implementation models used in Masbate, Davao, and Bogo City.



Unlike traditional construction, each LCS unit can be installed and fully functional within one to two weeks.



Built to meet strict standards, these specialized structures can withstand local environmental hazards. They offer a more economical alternative to permanent buildings without compromising safety or climate-resilience benchmarks.

This streamlined approach ensures that learners in vulnerable areas can return to safe, functional learning environments without delay.

DepEd urges campus journalists at 2026 NSPC to stand for truth

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ORMOC CITY, 14 April 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) urged campus journalists during the opening of the 2026 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) to remain steadfast in pursuing truth and accountability, even as artificial intelligence reshapes the media landscape.



This year’s NSPC, organized by DepEd in collaboration with the Local Government of Ormoc City, opened on Monday with a call for young journalists to take on a more critical role in combating misinformation and disinformation.



“Now more than ever, the role of the student-journalist is vital, for they are called to lead in fact-checking and to stand as defenders of verified, credible, and truthful information for the public,” said DepEd Undersecretary for Learning Systems Strand Carmela Oracion, who represented Education Secretary Sonny Angara in this year’s gathering.



Oracion also highlighted how the speed of information today has increased both opportunity and risk.



She stressed the importance of principled journalism in shaping public understanding, urging student-journalists to uphold accuracy and integrity.



Meanwhile, broadcast journalist and keynote speaker Atom Araullo emphasized the deeper purpose of journalism in his address to more than 3,400 delegates from 18 regions gathered at the Ormoc City Superdome.



“Ang journalism ay hindi isang competition. Ito ay isang serbisyo. Kapag may sakuna, may eleksyon, may katiwalian, kailangan may magsabi ng totoo,” Araullo said.



He also underscored the limits of emerging technologies in news work.



“AI can generate content, but it cannot pursue the truth,” he added.



This year’s NSPC, themed “Mapanuri, Mapanindigan, at Mapanagutang Pamamahayag,” features competitions in writing, visual journalism, and broadcast and multimedia, reflecting the evolving demands of the profession.



These include news, feature, editorial, sports, science and technology, and column writing, as well as copyediting and headline writing, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, radio and TV broadcasting, online publishing, and mobile journalism.



The conference serves not only as a venue for competition but also as a platform to reinforce the role of campus journalism in nation-building.