LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA — Learners in Benguet expect improved education with the reclassification and promotion of 1,935 teachers and school heads in the province.
A mass oath-taking for these teaching and non-teaching personnel reclassified under the Expanded Career Progression system was held at the Benguet Sports Complex in La Trinidad on January 5, 2026.
Department of Education Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development Wilfredo Cabral emphasized that the promotion is an investment in quality education.
“I would say that promotion should be a strategic investment towards better education outcomes. Every decision must be shaped with one guided purpose: to ensure a process that is fair, credible, and truly worthy of our teachers,” Cabral said.
“Lahat po ng pamumuhunan ay may balik. Ito po ‘yung tinatawag natin na return of investment. And as you take your oath today, commitment lang po, may you review your purpose for our learners—your profession and the difference that you can make to every learner every single day. At the end of the day, the reason why we are here is because of our learners,” he added.
DepEd-Cordillera Regional Director Estela Cariño stressed on the commitment to higher service for the learners with the promotion.
“I am hopeful that the effect of this would be better quality of education. I do hope na itong mga teachers will be more inspired, they will be more happy, and ‘pag happy ang teacher, walang masyadong iniisip dahil may increase na sa sweldo. I would assume that they will be more inspired to teach and be happy in teaching kasi he or she will be more effective,” she said.
Cariño also lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing the institutionalization of Republic Act No. 12288 or the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system which paved the reclassification and promotion of public school teachers and school leaders.
The ECP is a promotion scheme that allows teachers to be reclassified and move up in rank based on their qualifications, experience, and professional standards without waiting for vacant positions or the retirement of other personnel.
For school principal Moresto Angyatao, his promotion means chances to improve school administration.
“Makatulong daytoy ijay administration ti school kasi papanunutem ti responsibilidad mo as a school head, so it is a challenge nga mangimplement” he said.
(This will help in school administration because as a school head, this promotion would mean I need to think of my responsibilities, so this is a challenge)
Angyatao also expressed his gratitude to the President for the institutionalization of the ECP.
“Kay President, maraming salamat sa pag-apruba ng Republic Act na ECP at sa ating secretary, Sir Sonny Angara, salamat din, para mabigyan ‘yung mga guro at mga school head para ma-boost ‘yung self-confidence nila at gawin pa ang kanilang makakaya upang ipagpatuloy ang nasimulan sa pag-unlad ng edukasyon para sa ating mga kabataan, para sa ating bayan,” he said. **JDP/CVBT- PIA CAR
