he Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out major reforms to help public school teachers across the Philippines. These reforms focus on increasing allowances, improving career growth, and making promotions easier, while also reducing paperwork so teachers can focus more on teaching.
Higher Allowances for Teachers
Teachers will now receive much larger allowances to support their health and teaching needs:
- Medical allowance increased from Php 500 to Php 7,000 per year.
- Teaching allowance increased from Php 3,500 to Php 10,000 per year.
These higher allowances help teachers pay for medical needs and classroom materials, which many used to buy using their own money.
Better Career Progression and More Promotions
DepEd also introduced the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system, which gives teachers better chances to grow professionally without leaving the classroom.
- More than 16,000 teachers have already been promoted, while over 40,000 are waiting for approval.
In the past, teachers often had to move into office work just to get a higher salary. With the new system, they can stay in teaching while earning promotions based on performance.
Less Paperwork, More Time to Teach
A major change is the reduction of paperwork:
- Required forms and reports were reduced from 174 down to 75.
This gives teachers more time to prepare lessons and support their students. DepEd also created new administrative and support roles to handle non‑teaching tasks, further reducing the burden on teachers.
Additional Benefits Under the Reforms
Teachers will also receive other important benefits, such as:
- Clear overtime and overload pay rules.
- Up to 30 vacation service credits per year (previously 15).
- A fixed hardship allowance of 25% of salary for teachers in difficult or remote areas.
- Flexible work arrangements during emergencies.
- Inclusive hiring policies for fair opportunities.
What These Changes Mean for Teachers
These reforms show the government’s strong effort to prioritize teachers’ needs. With higher allowances, better promotion opportunities, and less administrative work, teachers can focus more on providing quality education to students. DepEd says these changes follow the national goal of putting teachers first.
FAQs
What new allowances will public school teachers receive?
Teachers will now receive a Php 7,000 medical allowance and a Php 10,000 teaching allowance each year, which is a big increase from the previous amounts.
Why did DepEd increase these allowances?
The higher allowances help teachers pay for health needs and classroom materials that they used to buy using their own money.
What is the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system?
It is a new system that allows teachers to be promoted and earn higher salaries based on merit, even if they stay in classroom teaching.
How many teachers have been promoted under the new system?
More than 16,000 teachers have already been promoted, and over 40,000 are still waiting for approval.
Will teachers still need to shift to office work to get promoted?
No. With the new system, teachers can grow in their careers and be promoted without leaving the classroom.
How did DepEd reduce teachers’ workload?
DepEd cut required school forms and reports from 174 to 75, reducing paperwork by more than half.
Who will now handle non‑teaching tasks?
DepEd created new administrative and support positions to take over documentation and other clerical duties.
Will teachers be paid for overtime or overload teaching?
Yes. The reforms include clearer rules for overtime and overload compensation, which were unclear before.
What is the new rule on vacation service credits?
Teachers can now receive up to 30 vacation service credits per year, double the previous 15‑day limit.
What benefits are given to teachers in remote or difficult areas?
Teachers working in challenging locations will receive a fixed hardship allowance equal to 25% of their salary.
Are there flexible work arrangements?
Yes. DepEd now allows flexible work arrangements during emergencies to ensure safety and smooth operations.
What is the purpose of these reforms?
The reforms aim to improve teacher welfare, lessen workload, and strengthen the education system by allowing teachers to focus more on teaching.
