Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Province of Kalinga witnessed a historic moment for basic education as 761 teachers were promoted—the largest number of educator promotions ever recorded in the province in a single event—on January 7, 2026, at the Tabuk City People’s Gym.
The reclassification of these educators was made possible through the Expanded Career Progression (ECP), a merit-based system that provides clearer and faster career pathways for public school teachers in the Philippines. The system created new ranks, including Teacher IV to VII, Master Teacher V, and Principal I to IV, allowing educators to advance based on performance, professional development, and qualifications. It likewise offers salary increases and additional support that help boost teacher morale.
With the allocation of ₱1.015 trillion for the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2026, approximately 100,000 public school teachers nationwide are expected to be promoted this year, joining the 16,025 teachers who were formally reclassified in December 2025.
In Kalinga, 761 educators under the Schools Division Office (SDO) Kalinga officially advanced in the career ladder on Wednesday. Of these, five were promoted to Teacher II; 39 to Teacher III; 75 to Teacher IV; 89 to Teacher V; 543 to Teacher VI; and 10 to Teacher VII.
In her welcome remarks, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Ginad ine Balagso shared that DepEd Cordillera Regional Director Estela Leon-Cariño defied the initially limited number of slots they were oriented on and encouraged the SDO Kalinga, headed by Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Buya-ao, to submit as many applications as possible.
“Upon the instruction of our RD… because she said it is an opportunity—why would we waste it? Bahala na si Batman—kaya sinubmit namin lahat ng application ninyo, at naging Batman nga si RD kaya we have this huge number of approved reclassifications,” Balagso said.
Balagso, who acknowledged the support of SDS Buya-ao and the DepEd Kalinga officials and staff who worked overtime to facilitate the applications, emphasized that the promotion goes beyond a salary increase.
“This promotion is more than a salary increase; it is a boost to your dignity and self-esteem. No longer should we hear the remark ‘teacher lang.’ Our teachers are no longer underestimated, for they now stand with higher compensation and recognition,” she said.
Regional Director Leon-Cariño personally administered the oath of the 761 iKalinga teachers, with Governor James Edduba gracing the event.
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