Mr. President and dear colleagues:
Magandang hapon po!
As one of the Commissioners of EDCOM II, I am honored to co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 3000, or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act. I would also like to express our gratitude to fellow Commissioner Senator Sherwin Gatchalian for graciously allowing us to co-sponsor this timely and crucial measure.
The findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), as reflected in our Year 2 report, show that teacher promotions in the Philippines move at an alarmingly slow pace. On average, it takes 15 years for a teacher to move from Teacher I to Teacher III—highlighting the lack of accessible and timely opportunities for career advancement among our teaching personnel.
This measure seeks to reverse that trend. By establishing a clear, merit-based career progression system, this bill will open pathways for growth—not only in the teaching career line, but also in school administration and supervision. It will empower our educators to aspire, improve, and lead.
At the heart of this bill is the goal to improve learning outcomes. Unfortunately, the data continues to show how far we still need to go. According to the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), around 18 million Filipinos who completed basic education are still functionally illiterate.
Mr. President, this bill is deeply personal to me—not just because of my role in EDCOM II, but because both my parents were teachers. I have seen firsthand the sacrifices that teachers make, and I understand how critical it is to reward and nurture their growth.
Education is the cornerstone of national development, and our public school teachers are on the frontlines of shaping the minds of future generations.
Kaya naman, buong puso ko pong isinusulong ang panukalang ito. Sana ay inyong samahan ang ating adhikain para sa isang makatarungan at makabuluhang sistema para sa ating mga guro.
Maraming salamat po.
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