A February 28, 2013, press release from the Department of Education

The Department of Education (DepEd) has come up with a ruling that prioritizes the hiring of
applicants who hail from the community where the school is located, provided that the applicant
possesses all the qualifications for the position stated in DepEd Order No, 12, s. 2012.

DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2013, specifies that the ruling applies to the appointment or assignment of
teachers in all public elementary and secondary schools and other learning centers under DepEd.

“In filling up vacant positions, priority shall be given to bona fide residents of the barangay,
municipality, city, or province where the school is located, in no particular order,” the order
specified.

“Bona fide residents” refer to a qualified applicant who is, prior to appointment, a resident for a
period of at least six months of a particular barangay, municipality, city or province where the
school is. This must be evidenced by legal documents to be identified by DepEd.

The Order also provides that among the bona fide residents, the most qualified shall be
prioritized in hiring.

Interested teaching applicants may send their application together with the necessary documents
to the school head concerned who shall verify the authenticity of the documents including the
proof of residency. The school head, in turn, shall forward the application to the division
superintendent who shall maintain a registry of qualified applicants. The registry has a validity of
one year.

deped.gov.ph