HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ full commitment to sustaining funding for 20,000 new public school teaching positions under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The teaching posts, fully funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, will continue to receive support in the 2026 national budget and beyond, Romualdez said.

He noted that the initiative, spearheaded by the Marcos administration and implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) under Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, represents both a significant educational reform and a bold move in national job creation.

“All 20,000 new teaching items are about changing lives,” Romualdez said. “Each filled position means a teacher in front of students who need guidance, and a Filipino family with a new source of income, dignity, and hope.”

The Department of Budget and Management earlier confirmed that the funding will come from DepEd’s built-in appropriations under the “New School Personnel Positions” program for fiscal year 2025.

Romualdez assured the public that the House will safeguard the program’s implementation and ensure its continuity in future budgets, citing strong legislative backing during the 2025 budget deliberations.

“We are not just addressing teacher shortages — we’re creating 20,000 new jobs. This is a strategic intervention with both educational and economic benefits,” he emphasized.

He also thanked President Marcos for his strong commitment to education reform, saying: “We thank the President for his dedication to strengthening the education system. This is what leadership looks like — one that understands the future begins in every classroom.”

Romualdez likewise praised Secretary Angara for his experience and legislative track record in addressing systemic challenges in education.

“Under his leadership, we are confident these funds will lead to real, on-the-ground improvements,” he added.

He highlighted the initiative’s far-reaching impact, especially in rural areas where job opportunities are scarce and teacher shortages are most severe.

“We are giving our people a reason to stay and serve in their communities. This will not only strengthen our public school system from the grassroots up but also stimulate local economies,” he said.

With the country facing a growing student population and longstanding issues with teacher-student ratios, Romualdez emphasized the importance of this investment.

“This initiative tackles multiple challenges — improving classroom conditions, easing teacher workloads, and creating thousands of jobs for qualified education graduates,” he said.

He also vowed to closely monitor the hiring process to ensure it is conducted efficiently, transparently, and based on merit, especially in high-need areas.

“Our goal is not just to fill vacancies. We want to deploy dedicated, competent mentors who are ready to serve,” he said. “We are planting the seeds of real, lasting change — classroom by classroom, community by community.”

Romualdez reiterated the House’s support for people-centered policies aligned with the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.

“Each teacher we hire is a nation builder,” he said. “With the President’s guidance and Secretary Angara’s leadership, we will continue to fight for every Filipino child’s right to quality education and every Filipino graduate’s right to meaningful employment.”