Aligning teacher specialization with subject assignments is essential for significantly improving student performance in the Philippines. However, this Policy Note finds that existing teaching mismatches, often caused by systemic issues in recruitment processes, negatively affect instructional quality, teacher confidence, and student engagement. The analysis emphasizes the need for recruitment policies to prioritize and enforce teacher-subject matching, supported by comprehensive reforms beginning with pre-service teacher education. The Note concludes that addressing subject mismatch requires targeted interventions, including the expansion and optimization of professional development programs, strategic workforce planning, and strengthened collaboration between teacher education institutions and the Department of Education to maintain teacher competence and close specialization gaps.