South Cotabato, Philippines | January 14 2026 – Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. is set to deploy 100 additional provincial school board-funded teachers and staff to support the ongoing expansion of his free education program, the Provincial Administrator’s Office confirmed.
According to Provincial Administrator Atty. Renette B. Bergado, the Tamayo administration has a clear direction to expand and reinforce programs that support education, particularly by ensuring sufficient manpower in public schools across the province of South Cotabato.
“The provincial government fully funds this program as part of Governor Tamayo’s ongoing advocacy to strengthen free and accessible education in South Cotabato. This will be a big help to our PSB personnel, who are our partners in delivering free education to students in our province.”
Cheryl Farnazo Abantao, Administrative Officer IV of the Office of the Provincial Administrator’s Office, explained that the recruitment and completion process for 50 new PSB teachers is currently underway.
To complement the deployment of new teachers, the provincial government is further bolstering school operations by hiring 30 learning support aides, 10 utility workers, and 10 security personnel. This strategic addition of non-teaching staff is designed to create a more holistic and secure learning environment, ensuring that teachers can focus on instruction while the essential administrative, maintenance, and safety needs of the campuses are fully met.
The orientation led by the Human Resource Officer is ongoing,” Abantao stated.
The additional 50 PSB teachers, approved by Governor Tamayo and set to take effect in January 2026.
This effort is being implemented through close collaboration between the Provincial Government of South Cotabato and the Department of Education–South Cotabato, highlighting a shared commitment to improving the quality of basic education in the province.
Based on records as of December 2025, the provincial government currently supports a total of 526 PSB teachers, 206 Learning Support Aides (LSAs), 118 clerks, 297 utility personnel, 299 security personnel, and four Alternative Learning System (ALS) mobile teachers.
“These personnel serve as the backbone of daily operations in public schools,” Abantao said.
Through continuous investment in education, the Tamayo administration shows that learning goes beyond a government program and stands as a core priority for South Cotabato’s future.
