National Teachers’ Day 2025: A formal tribute to educators
On October 6, 2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) celebrated National Teachers’ Day (NTD) with a strong message: Filipino educators deserve better benefits and stronger welfare. The event, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, also served as the culminating activity for this year’s World Teachers’ Day (WTD) and National Teachers’ Month (NTM), under the theme “Together 4 Teachers.” About 12,500 teachers from across Luzon gathered to witness President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara highlight the profession’s pivotal role in nation-building and student success.
Honoring teachers: leadership at the top
President Marcos, together with Angara, acknowledged teachers as the backbone of communities and the nation’s future. In his remarks, the President affirmed ongoing government efforts to improve teacher welfare and ensure better benefits. “On this National Teachers’ Day, we offer you our respect and deepest gratitude for shaping minds, touching hearts, and, in your own way, building a nation that we can be proud of—one student at a time,” Marcos said. He emphasized that teachers impart more than knowledge in every classroom—from urban centers to rural barrios—and that the profession also cultivates resilience, patience, and hope among students and educators alike.
Angara: teachers as essential partners in learning recovery
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara reiterated the critical role of teachers in delivering high-quality education, especially as the country recovers from pandemic-related disruptions. He underscored the commitment to strengthening teacher welfare and improving working conditions, noting that recovery efforts are inseparable from robust support for educators. “Our teachers have been the first to step up in every crisis, ensuring that children’s education does not stop,” Angara stated. The department’s initiatives are designed to translate this dedication into tangible benefits for teachers and learners alike.
DepEd’s welfare initiatives: concrete steps toward better conditions
Several key programs were highlighted as part of DepEd’s ongoing push to improve teachers’ lives:
– A P7,000 annual medical allowance for teachers and personnel to cover health benefits, with around 1.2 million potential beneficiaries; more than 982,000 have already received the benefit.
– Expanded Career Progression System, offering two tracks: Teaching (up to Teacher VII and Master Teacher V) and Administrative (up to School Principal IV), designed to accelerate promotions and ensure no teacher stalls at Teacher I.
– A 57% reduction in administrative tasks, leaving teachers with more time for instruction, as only five essential forms are now required.
– Enhanced vacation service credits, increasing to 30 days for personal or health-related use.
– The Teacher Education Roadmap 2025–2035, led by the Teacher Education Council, outlining a 10-year plan to align teacher education with the QBEDP 2025–2035.
<h2 classuring classroom capacity and digital modernization
To address classroom congestion and ensure modern teaching tools, the government plans to open 60,000 new teaching positions by fiscal year 2026, backed by a ₱114.39 billion allocation for salaries and benefits—a 19.4% increase from the previous year. DepEd also outlined a ₱16 billion FY 2026 budget for digitalization, including 240,000 new laptops, better school connectivity, and stronger internet support for teachers. These investments aim to keep Filipino classrooms competitive and responsive to today’s digital learning landscape.
Recognition, national strategy, and the pull of public service
The 2025 NTD celebration is more than a rite of appreciation; it is a reaffirmation that teachers drive national development, learning recovery, and the cultivation of globally minded citizens. The event aligns with the National Teachers’ Day observance (October 5) and World Teachers’ Day, reinforcing the value of the teaching profession in Philippine society. The Government’s roadmap includes ongoing performance bonuses and a continued focus on welfare programs, signaling a long-term commitment to teachers and learners alike.
Looking ahead: what teachers can expect
With the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus already approved and various welfare measures in motion, educators can anticipate enhanced support across career progression, health benefits, and workload management. As DepEd echoes President Marcos’s call, improvement should be felt in every classroom, by every teacher, and for every learner—ensuring better outcomes and a more resilient education system for the Philippines.
