DepEd hires lawyers in every school division to ease legal burdens

Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s plan to deploy new lawyers in every school division office earns praise from the Department of Education–National Employees Union (DepEd–NEU) on August 22.

Angara said the deployment allows school heads to focus on teaching and learning rather than juggling legal disputes and procurement issues.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the creation of 666 new plantilla positions on August 1.

These include 47 Attorney III posts, 187 Legal Assistants, 214 Procurement Officers, and 218 Administrative Officers nationwide.

Forty-seven small school division offices will have their own full-time legal officer, supported by Legal Assistant I positions in small and medium divisions.

DepEd–NEU calls the move a major step toward resolving long-standing legal and administrative challenges.

NEU President Domingo Alidon says the new positions “reduce the burden of non-teaching tasks that have affected both administrators and teachers.”

He added, “This is a step that will definitely improve the quality of service to our teachers, non-teaching personnel, and most especially, to our learners.”

Previously, school divisions relied solely on regional lawyers, causing delays in handling legal and administrative matters.

The expanded legal workforce is expected to streamline operations and improve efficiency across the education system.