On Thursday, March 5, 2026, a total of 2,649 teachers and school heads from the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Davao Region took their oath following their promotion and reclassification under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) program. The ceremony was held at the Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School gymnasium in Davao de Oro and was led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara. This event marks one of the largest mass promotions of educators in the region.
ACT-Davao Welcomes New Positions but Raises Concerns
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Davao Region (ACT-Davao) expressed support for the creation of additional teaching positions for School Year 2026–2027. However, the group also raised concerns about longstanding problems in the education sector. Reynaldo S. Pardillo, ACT-Davao City District President, noted that while they have long requested additional teaching positions, many major issues in schools remain unresolved.
“No matter how many changes are made to the curriculum or the school calendar, these will not solve the lack of funding, classrooms, learning materials, and support needed by teachers and students,” Pardillo said in a statement on May 27, 2026.
Current DepEd Davao Personnel Data
At present, the Department of Education in the Davao Region has 56,701 personnel. Of that number, 49,156 are in teaching positions, 4,709 are in non-teaching positions, and 2,836 are in teaching-related positions.
Addressing the Education Crisis
Pardillo emphasized that addressing the education crisis requires more than just adding teaching items. He stressed the need for adequate funding for schools, sufficient classrooms and facilities, enough support personnel, timely promotion and reclassification of teachers, and decent salaries that recognize the vital role of teachers in society.
“Quality education cannot be achieved merely by increasing the number of positions. It requires serious investment in public education and genuine support for teachers who face systemic shortcomings every day to ensure that students are able to learn effectively,” he said.
Insufficient Funding and Allowances
Pardillo hopes that every school in the region will be provided with sufficient funding so that teachers will no longer have to spend their own money on the repair of their classrooms or the purchase of other necessary equipment. He noted that although teachers receive an “instructional allowance” for instructional materials and other classroom needs, it is still insufficient because it is only given once a year.
He added that during this year’s Brigada Eskwela, many teachers would once again look for solutions or financial resources for repainting their classrooms and buying materials they need to organize and improve these for their students. Teachers will most likely use their own money to ensure that Brigada Eskwela for this school year is successfully carried out.
School Year 2026–2027 Begins
The academic year 2026–2027 started on June 8, 2026, and about 1.4 to 1.5 million students in the Davao Region are expected to enroll.
