President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday pledged deeper government support for teachers, announcing new incentives, career advancement measures, and reduced administrative burdens as he honored educators during the National Teachers’ Day celebration at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Calling teachers the country’s “true guests of honor,” Marcos lauded their daily sacrifices and enduring influence on the nation’s future.
“Teachers impart far more than just knowledge, you shape lives and mold values,” he said before thousands of educators from across the country. “In your strength, wisdom, and courage, we find the assurance that our future is secure,” the president added.
Mr. Marcos highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives to improve teachers’ welfare. He cited the recently signed Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which grants a tax-free teaching allowance. Each public school teacher has already received P10,000 this year to support classroom needs.
To address concerns about heavy workloads, he pointed to DepEd Order No. 005, which mandates compensation for teachers who exceed six hours of daily classroom instruction.
He also announced a P1,000 World Teachers’ Day incentive for every public school teacher as a small but meaningful gesture of appreciation.
The president emphasized efforts to ease bureaucratic burdens, noting that teachers’ paperwork requirements have been cut by 57 percent, from dozens of forms to just five.
“We want you to focus less on bureaucracy and more on what you do best, teaching,” he said.
He also touted reforms to ensure career growth, including the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act (RA 12288), which guarantees that no teacher will retire at the entry-level rank.
“We will no longer allow a public school teacher to retire as Teacher I,” he said.
Beyond immediate support, the administration is making long-term investments in education. Mr. Marcos said P26.55 billion redirected from underperforming flood control projects will be channeled to DepEd programs in 2026, including classroom construction, child nutrition, teacher compensation, and educational technology.
The president also cited partnerships with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to boost teachers’ financial literacy through an e-learning academy, and programs to recognize exemplary educators like Marivic Villacampa of Cavite, who continues teaching despite battling cancer, and Mary Jane Reodica of Laguna, who developed livelihood training projects for her community.
“Teaching is a partnership, between generations, between those who dream and those who make dreams possible,” the president said. “The true measure of a nation’s growth is found in the grit, passion, and dedication of our teachers,” he added.
The event, attended by thousands of educators from various regions, capped the nationwide celebration of National Teachers’ Day 2025 and World Teachers’ Day, held annually to honor the contributions of Filipino teachers.
