MANILA, Philippines — Filipino public school teachers could be in line for higher salaries, expanded promotion opportunities and additional support in 2027 as the government puts teachers at the center of a proposed ₱975.96-billion budget for the Department of Education (DepEd).
The proposed allocation, part of the administration’s ₱7.2-trillion 2027 National Expenditure Program, is 5.11% higher than DepEd’s 2026 NEP level.
But the headline figure is only part of the story.
According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), ₱61.02 billion of the increase in DepEd’s proposed funding is tied to higher Personnel Services spending, signaling a major focus on the people working inside the country’s public school system.
And for teachers, several changes could become particularly significant.
The salary increase teachers are watching
One of the biggest changes expected in 2027 is the fourth tranche of the salary adjustment under Executive Order No. 64.
DBM said the final tranche represents an average increase of around 5% in monthly compensation for government workers, including public school teachers.
For a Teacher I at Salary Grade 11, the monthly basic salary is scheduled to rise from ₱31,705 in 2026 to ₱33,387 in 2027, based on the government salary schedule.
The increase will be particularly noticeable among teachers in Salary Grades 11, 12 and 13, which include many Teacher I, Teacher II and Teacher III positions.
This is not a brand-new salary program created specifically for teachers. It is the fourth and final scheduled tranche under EO 64, which updates the salary schedule for civilian government personnel.
The bigger story: 135,000 teachers could get career opportunities
Beyond basic pay, the government is proposing a much larger allocation for the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System.
DBM said the 2027 proposal includes ₱12.09 billion for ECP, almost twice the ₱6.15 billion provided in 2026.
The funding is intended to support 135,063 position reclassifications, potentially giving around 135,000 teachers opportunities for career advancement.
The move addresses a long-standing problem in the public school system: teachers can spend years in the profession with limited opportunities to move beyond the traditional Teacher I, II and III career ladder.
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said the administration wants teachers to benefit financially when they advance professionally.
That means the government’s 2027 proposal isn’t simply about putting more money into teachers’ monthly paychecks—it is also about creating more opportunities for them to move up.
₱10,000 teaching allowance remains
Teachers are also expected to continue receiving the ₱10,000 annual Teaching Allowance.
DBM has proposed ₱10.36 billion for the allowance, covering approximately 1.036 million teaching and teaching-related positions nationwide.
The allowance is separate from the basic salary adjustment.
For teachers, that distinction matters: a salary increase changes basic pay, while allowances and benefits provide additional support but do not necessarily have the same effect on long-term compensation.
Billions more for benefits
The proposed 2027 DepEd budget also contains ₱38.78 billion for benefits covered by the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and other personnel benefits.
DBM listed several components, including:
- ₱25.04 billion for Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA)
- ₱5.80 billion for Special Hardship Allowance
- ₱648.10 million for teaching overload honoraria
- ₱7.30 billion for medical allowance of up to ₱7,000 for qualified civilian personnel.
These provisions are aimed at addressing not only compensation but also the additional demands faced by teachers, particularly those working in hardship areas or taking on workloads beyond regular teaching duties.
The government is also trying to give teachers more time to teach
Another piece of the proposal could affect teachers’ daily workload.
DBM said ₱840.59 million is proposed for the creation of 2,135 additional positions, including School Principal I, Project Development Officer I and Administrative Officer II positions.
The goal is partly to strengthen the non-teaching workforce so teachers can spend less time dealing with administrative responsibilities and more time inside the classroom.
DBM specifically cited functions such as human resources, procurement and supply work that can consume teachers’ time.
That could prove just as important as a salary increase for educators who have long complained about paperwork and administrative duties competing with their teaching responsibilities.
Training is also part of the package
The proposed budget includes ₱3.02 billion for DepEd personnel training, including ₱1.86 billion for in-service training and other learning and development programs.
The broader objective is to strengthen teachers’ competencies while giving them a clearer path for professional growth.
In other words, the proposed package combines pay, benefits, promotions, training and workforce support rather than relying on a salary adjustment alone.
This comes as thousands are already receiving salary upgrades
The 2027 proposal comes just days after DBM announced the release of ₱8.68 billion for salary upgrades involving 93,344 public school personnel whose positions were reclassified under the Expanded Career Progression System.
The funding covers salary differentials connected with the 2025 and 2026 implementation requirements for qualified personnel with the necessary staffing and appointment documents.
The regional DepEd offices are expected to facilitate the corresponding fund releases.
This means the government’s teacher compensation push is already producing financial adjustments for qualified personnel even before the proposed 2027 budget takes effect.
But there is an important catch
Despite the headline numbers, teachers should not interpret the announcement as a promise that every teacher will automatically receive the same increase or promotion in 2027.
The ₱975.96-billion DepEd allocation is still part of the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program and will go through the national budget process.
Likewise, ECP reclassifications depend on the applicable requirements and approved positions.
The scheduled salary increase is different: the fourth tranche under EO 64 is already established in the government’s salary schedule, with the 2027 rates set as the final tranche of that adjustment.
A nearly ₱1-trillion education budget
The teacher-focused measures form part of a much broader education spending plan.
DBM previously said the government is proposing ₱1.326 trillion for basic and higher education combined in 2027, equivalent to 3.99% of GDP.
DepEd’s proposed ₱975.96 billion allocation remains the largest component of that investment.
The administration is therefore framing the 2027 budget not merely as an education spending increase, but as an investment in teachers, students and the country’s human capital.
For public school educators, however, the most important question will be much more immediate:
Will the proposed billions translate into higher take-home pay, real promotion opportunities and less paperwork once the budget reaches implementation?
That is where the promise of the 2027 teacher package will ultimately be tested.
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