Manila: Senators Joel Villanueva and Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday hailed the approval of 16,000 new teaching positions, framing the move as a strategic investment in strengthening the education system and securing the nation’s long-term development.

According to Philippines News Agency, Villanueva, the commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), emphasized that hiring more educators is not merely about filling vacancies but empowering the next generation with quality instruction that can uplift communities and drive national progress. “We’re not just hiring teachers. We’re building the foundation for a more skilled, competitive and enlightened Filipino workforce,” he said in a statement. He stressed that with 18 million Filipinos still functionally illiterate, this investment is long overdue.

Villanueva also highlighted the importance of adding educators to ease classroom burdens, especially in remote and underserved areas where teacher-to-student ratios remain alarmingly high. To further boost teacher quality, he cited Republic Act 11713 or the Excellence in Teacher Education Act, which enhances teacher training, offers scholarships, and promotes career-long professional development.

Gatchalian, EDCOM II co-chairperson, noted that the additional positions will help improve learning outcomes by ensuring that students receive adequate attention and instruction, particularly as the country confronts learning losses amplified by the pandemic. However, he warned that the benefits of the new posts hinge on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) ability to streamline its hiring process. “The new teaching items are only as effective as our ability to fill them promptly with qualified educators,” he said, renewing his call for DepEd to revise its recruitment rules to shorten the current six-month average hiring time.