DepEd Vows Ongoing Dental Care Amid Staffing Gaps

Key Takeaways

• DepEd Western Visayas has 71 authorized dentist positions, with 58 filled and 12 vacancies.
• 4,057 public schools and 1.7 million learners rely on 58 dentists and 32 dental aides.
• Vacancies stem from bureaucratic delays and CSC guidelines complicating hiring.
• Partnerships with LGUs and organizations like the Philippine Dental Association bridge service gaps.
• Annual dental checkups and preventive care programs continue despite staffing challenges.

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Current Shortfall in Dental Staffing

THE PHILIPPINES: The Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas faces a significant gap in school-based dental care, with only 58 out of 71 authorized Dentist I and II positions filled as of February 2025. These 58 dentists, supported by 32 dental aides, are tasked with providing oral health services to approximately 1.7 million learners across 4,057 public schools in the region. Hernani Escullar Jr., DepEd Region 6 information officer, confirmed the vacancy of 12 posts, attributing delays to “ongoing hiring processes, pending postings, document processing, and appointment issuances.”

Challenges in Filling Vacancies

Escullar highlighted systemic hurdles in recruitment, including strict Civil Service Commission (CSC) guidelines that complicate filling roles such as guidance counselors. While dental positions are not directly affected, broader bureaucratic inefficiencies slow progress. “Some positions are challenging to fill due to CSC requirements,” he noted, emphasizing that DepEd-6 continues advertising vacancies to attract qualified applicants.

Partnership-Driven Solutions

To mitigate staffing limitations, DepEd-6 collaborates with local government units (LGUs) and health organizations. For example, the Schools Division Office (SDO) in Roxas City partners with the Philippine Dental Association to offer oral exams, fluoride treatments, and dental health education. Similarly, the Municipality of Pavia in Iloilo works with private groups to expand school-based services. Escullar stressed that partnerships ensure continuity: “We tap into collaborations to deliver essential health services despite limited authorized positions.”

Ongoing Efforts and Future Steps

Annual dental checkups remain a priority, with existing staff scheduling school visits to meet student needs. Escullar assured stakeholders that DepEd-6 is “committed to filling all vacancies” and maintaining preventive care programs. However, the region’s reliance on external partnerships underscores systemic gaps in public health infrastructure, raising questions about long-term sustainability without increased staffing allocations.