At least 235 teachers in Western Visayas resigned in 2024, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) 6.

The highest number of teachers who quit their job this year is recorded in the Province of Iloilo that reached 55, followed by the Province of Negros Occidental with 44, and the Province of Antique with 27.

Of the 235, 51 teachers sought new jobs in government agencies while 184 traveled to the United States (US) through the J1 Program or the Educational and Cultural Exchange Program for Teachers.

Among those who quit teaching is Lodi Basco. She spent 11 years at Guimbal National High School in Iloilo before seeking other opportunities in the US.

“In terms of sweldo, mataas naman. But then even mataas ang aking sahod dito sa Pilipinas sa pagti-teach, iba talaga ang ino-offer financially (sa US),” Basco said.

She has returned to the Philippines but she is determined to go back.

Hernani Escullar, regional information officer of DepEd 6, said that the agency would have wanted to keep teachers from leaving by ensuring that compensation packages and benefits meet financial needs, but salary grades are beyond their control.

“In terms of financials, we are binded (bound) by DBM (Department of Budget and Management) law. May salary grades na sinusunod, so it’s beyond our control,” Escullar said.

In the event of resignations, Escullar pointed out that DepEd VI undertakes urgent hiring process to fill the vacant post. 

Division offices of DepEd and the schools have Learning Continuity Plan in place to deal with the vacancy, Escullar said.

Escullar could not, however, tell whether the number of teachers quitting went up or down compared to previous years, as the agency does not have the data yet. But the number of teachers who have resigned is relatively small, Escullar added, compared to the total number of teachers in the region at over 78,000, or only about 0.30 percent.