MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed concerned government agencies to speed up the processing of the 2024 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for qualified teachers and education personnel while continuing reforms aimed at reducing teachers’ administrative workload.

Speaking during the 2026 National Teachers’ Day celebration at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Monday, Marcos said processing of the bonus is ongoing and ordered agencies involved to ensure that it proceeds properly and more quickly.

The President did not announce a specific release date for the 2024 PBB.

Alongside the bonus, Marcos highlighted measures intended to give teachers more time for classroom instruction by cutting paperwork, strengthening the non-teaching workforce and reducing the number of required classroom observations.

For School Year 2025–2026, classroom observations were reduced from four to one, while succeeding school years will have two observations.

DepEd earlier said classroom observations would remain part of teacher development but should be conducted as a supportive and collaborative process rather than treated as a punitive or high-stakes exercise.

The administration is also continuing efforts to improve teachers’ benefits and incentives, including teaching and medical allowances and the World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit.

Marcos also cited expanded career opportunities for educators. As of September, 82,105 teachers and school heads had been promoted under the Expanded Career Progression System, including 4,125 education personnel in Cagayan Valley who recently took their oaths of office.

The President said the government would continue looking for ways to improve teachers’ benefits, working conditions and career advancement opportunities.

The measures form part of broader education reforms aimed at allowing teachers to spend more time on instruction while providing additional support for their professional growth.

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