Manila, Jan. 5 -- A veteran teacher who spent 30 years at the same rank will retire three levels higher thanks to a Department of Education promotion program, officials said Monday.

Marcelina Gosgos of Balili Elementary School was among 8,811 DepEd personnel in the Cordillera region promoted under the Expanded Career Progression program.

"Without the reclassification, I will retire as Teacher lll Step 8, but with God's grace, I am lucky to have been one of those promoted, and I will retire as Teacher VI," Gosgos said during a mass oathtaking for 1,937 promoted personnel in Benguet province.

Dr. Estela Carino, DepEd-Cordillera director, called the event historic, noting the region received an additional PHP1.4 billion for the promoted e...