Government employees who have been promoted or whose positions have been reclassified may soon face fewer delays in receiving the salary adjustments attached to their new positions, as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) prepares a new funding process for Personnel Services deficiencies.

Under the proposed reform, government agencies would keep their plantilla master lists updated, allowing the DBM to identify salary-funding gaps and release additional funds without waiting for agencies to submit a separate request.

The system is targeted for live testing beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to the DBM.

What the Planned DBM Reform Means for Government Workers

At present, an agency that lacks sufficient Personnel Services funding may need to request additional funds before the deficiency can be addressed.

DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said the agency wants to make that process more proactive.

Instead of waiting for individual funding requests, the DBM would use updated personnel records to determine where deficiencies exist and release the necessary funding accordingly.

For employees who have already been promoted or whose positions have been officially reclassified, the proposed change could help shorten the administrative process between the approval of a new position and the availability of funds needed to pay the corresponding salary.

However, the reform does not mean that every government worker will automatically receive a salary increase.

Eligibility will still depend on the employee's position, appointment, reclassification, applicable government compensation rules, and the funding requirements involved.

Testing Targeted for Fourth Quarter of 2026

The DBM is preparing the formal guidelines for the new process, with the corresponding circular targeted for completion before the end of September.

Live testing is then expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is expected to be among the agencies covered by the test, together with other national government agencies that may require additional Personnel Services funding.

If the pilot works as intended, updated plantilla information could serve as an early signal to the DBM that an agency needs additional funding for salaries, reducing reliance on separate deficiency requests.

Why This Matters to Public School Teachers

The reform could be particularly significant for public school teachers and other DepEd personnel whose positions have already been reclassified under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System.

On September 3, DBM announced the release of ₱8.68 billion in additional funding to cover salary differentials for 93,344 reclassified public school positions nationwide.

The funding covers fiscal years 2025 and 2026 for qualified personnel with issued Notices of Organization, Staffing, and Compensation Action (NOSCA) and appointments.

The ECP System is intended to provide teachers with more opportunities to advance professionally and receive compensation corresponding to higher positions without necessarily leaving the teaching track.

What This Could Mean for Teachers and Government Employees in Tarlac

For government employees and public school personnel in Tarlac Province, the announcement is worth monitoring because the planned DBM process is intended for national government agencies and could include DepEd offices requiring additional Personnel Services funding.

Qualified teachers in Tarlac whose positions have been reclassified under the ECP System may also be part of the nationwide implementation, depending on their individual appointments, NOSCA issuance, and other requirements.

However, DBM's announcement did not specify a separate allocation or number of beneficiaries exclusively for Tarlac Province.

Employees should therefore verify their individual status through their agency, human resources office, DepEd division or regional office, or applicable DBM office rather than assuming that the announcement automatically confirms payment.

When Could Employees See the New Process?

The target is Q4 2026 for live testing, not an immediate nationwide automatic-payment system.

That distinction is important.

The DBM is still developing the formal policy, and implementation will depend on the issuance of the circular and the results of the government's testing.

If successfully implemented, the reform could remove an administrative step that contributes to delays in funding salary adjustments for promoted and reclassified personnel.

More Funding Proposed for Teacher Career Progression in 2027

The government is also proposing ₱12.09 billion for the Expanded Career Progression System under the proposed FY 2027 National Budget.

According to DBM, this is ₱5.94 billion higher than the FY 2026 funding level and would support the continued career advancement and reclassification of public school teachers.

For teachers, the broader goal is to ensure that professional advancement is eventually matched by the appropriate position and compensation.

Bottom Line

Will promoted or reclassified government workers automatically receive faster salary adjustments now?

Not yet.

DBM is preparing a system that could allow it to identify Personnel Services funding deficiencies through updated plantilla records and release funds without waiting for individual agencies to make separate requests.

Testing is targeted to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

For qualified employees, particularly teachers whose positions have already been reclassified, the reform could eventually mean a faster and less request-dependent funding process.

Individual salary adjustments will still depend on eligibility, approved appointments and reclassifications, available funding, and the final DBM guidelines.

Everything Tarlac will continue monitoring the implementation of the policy, including developments that may affect government employees and public school personnel across Tarlac Province.

Source: Department of Budget and Management

Byline: Everything Tarlac News Desk