ILOILO City – More than 300 guidance counselor positions remain vacant in public secondary schools across Western Visayas, forcing the Department of Education (DepEd) to assign teachers and other personnel to perform critical student guidance functions amid a worsening shortage of licensed professionals.
DepEd Region 6 disclosed that 306 plantilla positions for registered guidance counselors remain unfilled, while no registered guidance counselors are assigned to elementary schools in the region.
The ideal standard is one registered guidance counselor for every 500 learners or at least one counselor for every school, according to DepEd.
Officials said many of the positions have remained vacant for more than five years because they are considered “hard-to-fill” posts due to low salaries, stringent qualification requirements, and better-paying opportunities in the private sector.
Guidance counselors play a vital role in school-based mental health programs by providing professional counselling, supporting victims and bullies, implementing positive discipline strategies, and ensuring proper reporting of student welfare concerns.
DepEd-6 regional director Dr. Cristito Eco said the agency continues to struggle in attracting qualified applicants.
“The reason for this challenge relates to the low salary grade assigned to guidance counselors, which is around Salary Grade 11. Also, to qualify for the licensure exam to become a guidance counselor, one must hold a Master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree with a major in guidance counseling – two degrees on a salary that is not very competitive,” Eco said.
This, he lamented, discourages many potential candidates.
Many graduates are thus drawn to more lucrative positions in private educational institutions or corporate settings, said Eco, further complicating the recruitment process.
To address the problem, DepEd has proposed the reclassification of 46 guidance-related positions under Republic Act 12080.
Atty. Jessica Sapalo, chief of the Administrative Services Division of DepEd-6, said the proposal was submitted to the central office in February.
“We are awaiting feedback and approval from the central office,” Sapalo said.
Pending the issuance of new guidelines, DepEd has temporarily suspended the hiring of new guidance counselors and coordinators to avoid conflicts with the planned restructuring.
As of the latest data, only 350 registered guidance counselors are serving public secondary schools across Western Visayas. Iloilo province has the highest number with 158, followed by Capiz with 56, Antique with 45, Aklan with 39, Iloilo City with 22, Guimaras with 14, Roxas City with nine, and Passi City with seven.
With the shortage persisting, DepEd has designated 2,265 elementary teachers and 418 secondary teachers to perform guidance-related duties despite not being licensed guidance counsellors.
Dr. Miguel Mac Aposin, officer-in-charge and assistant regional director of DepEd-6, acknowledged that assigning non-specialists is only a temporary solution.
“There is a need to retitle positions for possible guidance associates, indi na counselors. Lain na ang title. This will allow hiring of possible applicants na hindi pa registered guidance counselors,” he said.
“For the meantime, if wala pa guidance counselor nga registered, gina-tap naton ang aton teachers as guidance counselors to perform certain functions,” said Aposin.
Eco said DepEd is also tapping other agencies to bridge the gap.
“We met with the Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), who assured us that their guidance counselors — who are trained social workers — are available to support our schools. We will formalize our partnership on this important matter,” he said.
Regarding peer support programs, Eco said some schools have already adopted the system but stressed that proper supervision remains essential.
“But since students are minors, they need proper guidance on the extent to which their peers can provide advice. However, I am aware that some schools are implementing good practices in this area,” said Eco.
He added: “We encourage every learner experiencing problems to understand that they are not alone. It is important to talk to your parents, teachers, or friends. This is one of the key messages we are promoting.”/PN
