President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to pursue further improvements in government support, benefits and career opportunities for teachers, citing recent measures to ease their workload and expand promotions.
“Patuloy nating hahanapan ng paraan kung papaano pa mapabubuti ang suporta, benepisyo, at mga oportunidad para sa ating mga guro (We will continue to find ways to further improve the support, benefits and opportunities for our teachers),” Marcos said during the 2026 National Teachers’ Day celebration.
Speaking before 10,500 teachers from Luzon, Marcos said education remains his administration’s priority, citing the record 2026 education budget and reforms pursued under his leadership.
Marcos said the government is processing the 2024 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) and has directed concerned agencies to ensure its orderly and expedited release.
He also cited the PHP1,000 World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit, which teachers are set to receive every Oct. 5 as part of efforts to improve their benefits and incentives.
The President said more than 82,105 teachers and school heads have also been promoted under the Expanded Career Progression System as of September.
He also cited measures to reduce teachers’ administrative workload, including the streamlining of paperwork and the reduction of classroom observations from four per school year to one in School Year 2025–2026, before returning to two in succeeding school years.
“We have strengthened our non-teaching workforce, streamlined teachers’ paperwork, and reduced classrooms observations from four per School Year to one in School Year 2025–2026, then two… followed by two for the succeeding school years,” Marcos said.
Marcos said the government has also expanded teaching and medical allowances and other forms of support for teachers.
He also cited the Philippines’ improved scores in reading, mathematics and science in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) compared with 2022, saying the government must sustain the gains and improve learning outcomes.
Meanwhile, Marcos said the government is strengthening school guidance and mental health support, adding School Counselor Associates are intensifying efforts against bullying and other forms of violence following recent incidents involving young people.
He said keeping students safe is a shared responsibility of government, schools, parents, teachers and communities.
During the gathering, the President also honored exemplary educators in Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) as the country marks the 10th year of the IPEd Program’s implementation. (PNA)
