DepEd promotes Dinagat Islands’ longest-serving teacher
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Among the first batch of 23 longest-serving teachers across Caraga region, Roberta T. Oblimar from San Jose, Dinagat Islands, is the sole teacher from the province who got promoted under the Department of Education’s program on Expanded Career Progression (ECP), with a teaching service record of 30 years.
She took her oath as Teacher 6 during the mass oath-taking ceremony of newly promoted teachers and school heads on May 24 in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. It was administered by DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara, alongside Secretary Antonio F. Lagdameo Jr., special assistant to the President, as a witness.
During her interview with the Philippine Information Agency-Dinagat Islands, she expressed gratitude to the government for fulfilling her dream to be promoted. “Today, my heart is full of gratitude because, officially, I am already a Teacher 6. I want to thank the DepEd and the government for recognizing our hard work, diligence, and commitment. “
“For me, this is a legacy of the current administration because my promotion was finally realized under the leadership of PBBM,” Oblimar said.
She added, “Aside from fulfillment in my work as an educator, this promotion will help me economically and will give a better future for my family.”
Meanwhile, the ceremony was attended by 1,559 newly promoted public school teachers and school heads in the Caraga region, including 126 from Dinagat Islands.
The province of Agusan del Sur has 600 promotees, while Bayugan City has 104. Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur province has 488, Bislig City has 75, Tandag City has 58, and Siargao Island has 108.
Sec. Angara shared that the activity is a fulfillment of the government’s promise to take care of the teachers, especially under the ECP.
Established under Executive Order No. 174, series of 2022, the ECP is a progressive policy framework that allows public school teachers to advance in stature and compensation through classroom teaching or school administration tracks without needing to wait for plantilla vacancies.
It further recognizes and advances long-serving educators, particularly retiring Teacher 1 personnel, by providing greater opportunities for career advancement within the department, ensuring that dedicated educators are appropriately compensated and promoted, and addressing career stagnation within the public education sector.
The ECP, as a career promotion program, supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that no teacher retires while remaining in the entry-level position of Teacher 1. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)
