BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Millions of Filipino learners heading back to school this week are welcomed by smoother commutes, safer campuses, healthier classrooms, stronger internet, and more affordable school supplies—thanks to a whole-of-government effort led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Heeding the directive of the President, national agencies, spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd), converged to support students and families in their return to school, ensuring that education is not only accessible but also more comfortable, secure, and learner-friendly.

“Lahat ng departamento ng pamahalaan ay naka-converge dito, sama-samang nagtutulungan. Gawan natin ng paraan para mabawasan ang gastos ng mga magulang, masiguro ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga bata, at gawing accessible ang edukasyon sa lahat,” President Marcos said during his school inspection in Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Manila on Monday.

Following the directive of President Marcos, Education Secretary Sonny Angara followed it through with an inter-agency meeting on Tuesday to ensure that the government is also focused on addressing challenges in the education sector.   

Under the leadership of Secretary Angara, DepEd has started delivering laptops for teachers and non-teaching personnel, smart TV packages in classrooms, and textbooks for learners across the country ahead of schedule. The Department also mobilized communities and partner agencies through Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela to make sure schools across the country are ready to ensure schools are safe, clean, well-equipped, and fully prepared to welcome learners for School Year 2025–2026.

Meanwhile, to ease financial strain on families, the Balik-Eskwela Diskwento Caravan was launched in Manila by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DepEd. Spearheaded by DTI Secretary Cris Roque, the caravan offers discounted school supplies—ranging from notebooks and bags to uniforms and pencils—directly to communities, making back-to-school shopping more affordable for every Filipino household.

Beyond affordability, this year’s school opening puts health and safety front and center. With the Department of Health (DOH) distributing “Bawat Bata Malusog” packages to 83 schools nationwide, learners now return to classrooms equipped with first aid kits, blood pressure monitors, weighing scales, disaster-readiness tools, and teacher self-care kits. DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized that schools are critical spaces for promoting wellness among children and education personnel, in line with the Universal Health Care Law.

Security was also visibly ramped up, with PNP Chief General Nicolas D. Torre III personally inspecting schools in Quezon City on the first day of classes. Police officers were strategically deployed to ensure student safety, manage traffic, and prevent any disruptions to learning. Parents and school staff welcomed the early engagement of the Philippine National Police as a sign of strong community-based support.

Connectivity for blended and digital learning got a major boost through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which rolled out free Wi-Fi access at Tibagan Elementary School in Bulacan. President Marcos joined DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, and PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz in inspecting classrooms and checking digital readiness. The initiative strengthens the administration’s push to expand digital inclusion across public schools.

Meanwhile, students commuting to school benefited from heightened readiness across mass transport lines. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through MRT-3 and PCG K-9 teams, ensured safer and more efficient travel as classes resumed, with station checks and security patrols in full swing per President Marcos’ directive to make public transport safe and reliable, especially for students.

Other agencies contributed behind the scenes to make sure classrooms and communities were ready. The DPWH and MMDA worked on traffic flow and school infrastructure, DILG and LGUs led local coordination, while DOE, MERALCO, MWSS, NTC, and PCO delivered critical utilities and real-time public information support.

Secretary Angara emphasized that the success of this nationwide effort lies in shared responsibility.

“Hindi lamang responsibilidad ng iisang sektor ang edukasyon. Sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas, ang DepEd ay kumikilos nang sama-sama—kasama ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, lokal na pamahalaan, at ang buong komunidad—para sa kinabukasan ng kabataan,” he said.

With the President leading the way, the government’s actions for the new school year reflect deeper commitment to helping the entire education sector.

*All Photos from DepEd