MANILA, Philippines – The government approved the creation of over 3,000 teaching positions in Sulu as the province’s education office transitions to the jurisdiction of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The DepEd announced on Tuesday, October 27, that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the creation of the following positions: 

• 3,618 positions for Teacher I to Master Teacher II for kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school
• Nine teaching-related positions, including Head Teacher I and School Principal I and II

In an explanation sent to Rappler, the DepEd said the figure came from the deployment plan it submitted to the DBM. The plan “directly facilitates the structured transition and absorption” of existing personnel of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTE-BARMM) into the national government framework.

Voters in Sulu had rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in a 2019 plebiscite, but the province was still initially included in BARMM because the then-ARMM provinces were deemed to have voted as a single bloc. Sulu’s exclusion from the new region was only finalized after a Supreme Court ruling in 2024.

By 2025, the province had reverted to the Zamboanga Peninsula, following an executive order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“DepEd, in coordination with the DBM, Regional Office IX, and local government partners, is fast-tracking the deployment and appointment protocols to guarantee that salaries, benefits, and operational support continue without interruption,” the agency said in a news release.

Ronelo Al Firmo, the DepEd Zamboanga Peninsula director, said he will also discuss possible promotions for teachers.

“Just imagine, may mga magre-retire na pero Teacher I pa rin. Kaya very important talaga na mai-discuss sa kanila ‘yong ECP, ‘yong Expanded Career Progression, para at least before sila mag-retire, at least makatikim man lang sila ng isang promotion,” Firmo told Radyo Pilipinas Jolo. 

(Just imagine, there will be teachers who will retire as Teacher I. That’s why it’s very important to discuss with them the ECP, the Expanded Career Progression, so that they’ll be able to experience at least one promotion before they retire.)

The DepEd announced the formal transition of Sulu’s education office to its jurisdiction on October 20. Along with that was the DBM’s approval of the creation of 84 non-teaching plantilla positions. 

Of the 84 positions, 40 are held by current MBHTE-BARMM personnel deployed to Sulu, and are already prioritized for absorption under Civil Service Commission rules.

Marcos also visited Sulu on October 20 to lead the rollout of the state health insurer’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP health caravan at Kawmpang Elementary School in Patikul town. The provincial capitol and offices are located in this town. 

During the budget deliberations at the House of Representatives’ plenary in September, the DepEd committed to absorb Islamic Studies and Arabic Language teachers from the MBHTE-BARMM into the DepEd by January 2027. – Rappler.com