DepEd to deploy 666 new legal, procurement personnel

Abdiel Franz Bernales

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to deploy over 666 new plantilla personnel on August 8, including lawyers, legal assistants, and procurement staff, to public Schools Division Offices (SDOs) across the country. 

This came after the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) formal approval of DepEd’s request on August 1 to create and reclassify various legal and procurement positions across 223 SDOs.

The approval covers the creation of new plantilla positions across all SDOs, specifically: 47 Attorney III, 187 Legal Assistant I, 214 Administrative Officer IV, and 218 Administrative Officer II. 

The hiring of procurement staff will enable SDOs to process and manage procurement functions more efficiently and in compliance with existing regulations.

DepEd said the newly approved items will allow small SDOs to have their full-time legal officer, supported by Legal Assistant I positions across small and medium divisions.

The request aims to address longstanding staffing gaps that have hindered operations at the local level, according to DepEd.

In addition to legal staffing, the DBM also approved the creation of a dedicated Procurement staff across all SDOs, composed of 214 Administrative Officer IV (SG 15) and 218 Administrative Officer II (SG 11) positions.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara stressed that the initiative addresses a critical human resource gap, which has strained field offices for years.

“Malaking tulong ito para sa ating field offices na matagal nang kapos sa suporta. Dahil sa tulong ni Pangulong Marcos at DBM, magkakaroon tayo ng mga abogado at procurement staff sa bawat SDO. Mas mapapabilis ang serbisyo, at mababawasan ang burnout ng ating mga kawani,” Angara said.

Further, DepEd’s demand for legal services, such as case resolution, contract review, and client consultations, has long outpaced staffing capacity, with offices often sharing personnel across divisions or regions. 

The new items will give 47 small divisions their own full-time legal officer, supported by Legal Assistant I positions in small and medium divisions.