Angara welcomes DBM nod to 3,627 new DepEd Sulu positions

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed on Monday the Department of Budget and Management’s approval of the creation of 3,627 teaching and teaching-related positions for the newly established Schools Division Office (SDO) of Sulu. — a major development for public school teachers and personnel across Sulu,

“We know that there’s some worry about such a big change in the work situation. So our message to our teachers and workers in Sulu: You are part of the DepEd family, you are protected, and we won’t neglect your livelihood,” Angara said in Filipino in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“It’s our obligation to recognize the sacrifices of our teachers, and fulfill what President Bongbong Marcos has said — that nobody will be left behind as we transfer to DepEd the education system in Sulu,” he added.

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The milestone follows the recent visit of Marcos and Angara to Kawmpang Elementary School in Patikul, Sulu, where the president personally assured educators of a smooth and secure administrative transition as the province moves from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to the Zamboanga Peninsula under Executive Order No. 91, s. 2025.

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During the visit, Marcos affirmed that the national government was working to safeguard job security, noting that existing personnel would be absorbed and supported through newly created plantilla positions.

Under the DBM-approved breakdown, the 3,627 newly created positions include 3,618 teaching items spanning Teacher I to Master Teacher II for kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school levels, alongside nine teaching-related positions, including Head Teacher I and School Principal I and II.

These come on top of the DBM’s earlier approval of 84 administrative and division positions to staff the SDO Sulu headquarters. Of these 84 positions, 40 are currently held by incumbent personnel from the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTEBARMM) deployed in Sulu, who are prioritized for absorption under Civil Service Commission rules.

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“I’m impressed by the dedication of our teachers in Sulu because, despite the challenges, they continue to teach. So we ensured that this transition will be quick and orderly for them so that all they would have to think about is guiding and teaching our youth,” Angara said.

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DepEd is coordinating with the DBM, the Zamboanga Peninsula regional office, and local government partners in fast-tracking the deployment and appointment protocols to ensure that salaries, benefits, and operational support continue without interruption. /atm