File photo of Budget chief ‘Mina’ Pangandaman from MSU-IIT.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved funding for the creation of 16,000 new teaching positions in public schools for School Years 2025 to 2026 based on President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM)’s directive to strengthen the education sector and ensure sufficient manpower in the country’s educational institutions.
According to budget and management secretary Amenah ‘Mina’ Pangandaman, the new teaching positions form the first tranche of the 20,000 positions targeted for creation this year.
“The DBM’s approval of the 16,000 new teaching positions is in adherence to our President’s directive to strengthen our country’s education system. This move is also in support of the Department of Education’s efforts to boost the teaching workforce across Kindergarten, Elementary, Junior High School, Senior High School, and the Alternative Learning System,” Pangandaman pointed out.
The approved new positions include the following: 15,343 Teacher I posts with Salary Grade 11 with starting compensation
of ₱22,316 to ₱24,319, 157 Special Science Teachers (Salary Grade 13, ₱25,282 to ₱28,969) and 500 Special Education (SPED) Teachers (Salary Grade 14, ₱29,277 to ₱31,405).
The budget chief cited that for added flexibility, the Senior High School teaching positions will be created at the division level in order to allow School Division Superintendents to transfer or reassign them to where they are most needed.
Pangandaman disclosed that the ₱4.194 billion needed to fund the new items will come from the Department of Education’s built-in appropriations under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which was specifically earmarked for hiring new school personnel.