President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the release of an additional P8.68 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) to support the ongoing implementation of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System for public school personnel across the country.
During a Palace press briefing Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the fresh capital will be disbursed through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), led by Acting Secretary Kim Robert de Leon, as part of the administration’s commitment to rewarding experience, competence and professional growth in basic education.
The newly approved funding is expected to directly benefit more than 93,344 public school teachers and personnel nationwide.
“Saklaw din ng pondo ang implementation requirements para sa Fiscal Year 2025 at Fiscal Year 2026 para sa mga nabigyan ng Notices of Organization, Staffing, and Compensation Action o NOSCA at appointments,” Castro said.
Under the ECP System, thousands of educators have already secured reclassifications and promotions. Designed to expand professional pathways, the framework allows teachers to progress into higher pay grades without having to step away from classroom instruction to take on administrative duties.
The initiative fulfills President Marcos’ pledge to eliminate career stagnation in the sector, ensuring that no public school teacher retires at the entry-level Teacher I rank by establishing clear, performance-based promotional tracks.
To ensure swift implementation, Castro noted that DBM regional offices will handle the fund processing directly to expedite the release of financial resources to their respective DepEd counterparts.
Looking ahead, the administration has proposed a P12.9 billion allocation for the ECP System in Fiscal Year 2027, marking a P5.94 billion, or 96.6 percent, surge over the program’s 2026 budget.
“Ang hakbang na ito ng Pangulo para sa sektor ng edukasyon ay patunay lamang sa seryosong hangarin ng Pangulo sa pagyabong ng kaalaman ng mga batang Pilipino,” Castro added.