Cordillera teachers celebrate: Over 8,000 get promoted through Expanded Career Progression

Tabuk City, Kalinga – More than 8,000 public school teachers from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) became the first beneficiaries of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP), marking a milestone in the implementation of a long-awaited reform that institutionalizes clearer career advancement and improved compensation for educators.

The ECP, according to the Department of Education (DepEd), bridges gaps in the old system by introducing new position titles, including Teacher IV–VII and Master Teacher levels, and providing more opportunities for career advancement.

During the Oath-Taking Ceremony of Promoted Teaching Personnel held at the Tabuk City Gymnasium in Dagupan on January 7, 2026, DepEd Regional Director Estela P. Leon-Cariño said that at least 8,811 teaching personnel in the region were promoted through the ECP, noting that they are the first to benefit from the program.

Of this total, 761 teaching personnel were promoted in Kalinga.

“For the entire CAR, more or less 8,811 were promoted through the ECP. After years of planning, you are the first to benefit from it,” she said.

Leon-Cariño emphasized that although the ECP was conceptualized years ago under former Secretary Armin Luistro, it only became law last September 2025 with the passage of Republic Act 1288. Its rollout was delayed due to funding requirements amounting to ₱1.4 billion and the complexity of finalizing promotion criteria and processes.

The regional director also reminded teachers that recommendations should be communicated through official channels to ensure they reach the central office, rather than relying on social media.

“Let us not just post on Facebook. We should provide accurate information and send recommendations through proper channels, as the central office does not read all comments online,” she said.

With the mass promotion increasing teachers’ salaries, Leon-Cariño stressed that the advancement should also serve as a renewed responsibility to strengthen classroom instruction and improve learning outcomes.