BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Guided by the transparency agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Education (DepEd)on Monday launched Project Bukas —a pioneering initiative that opens up education data to the public to promote transparency, accountability, and stronger collaboration for better learning outcomes.  

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Project Bukas is a key tool in making sure this historic investment is monitored and maximized for the benefit of Filipino learners. 

“Gusto natin sa panig ng DepEd, dapat transparent, pinapakita natin saan ginagastos ang pera ng taumbayan. First time sa kasaysayan ng DepEd na ibibigay sa publiko ang lahat ng datos. Kung anong alam namin sa Central Office, sa regional office, yun din ang malalaman ng publiko,” Angara said during the program’s launch at Parañaque High School.  

Project Bukas marks the first time in DepEd’s history that school-level and division-level datasets will be released to the public. In its initial rollout this September, data will be released for Regions I, III, VIII, IX, and CAR at the school level, while other regions will publish both school and division data. 

The datasets cover assessment results such as the Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment, the National Achievement Test for Grade 6, and the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment, alongside information on enrollment, number of schools, access to electricity and water supply, WASH facilities, school inventories, MOOE utilization, and school ratios.  

“Pero hindi ito kakayanin ng DepEd lamang. Kailangan natin ang LGUs, NGOs, private sector, at lahat ng partners upang mas mapabuti ang mga programa para sa ating mga bata. Sana sama sama tayo rito.” 

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who also joined the launch, said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to good governance. According to the DBM chief, DepEd and its attached agencies have been allocated a budget of P928.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2026, which could account for 4.1 percent of the country’s GDP pending House deliberations. 

Secretary Angara stressed that the transparency portan will also strengthen flagship basic education programs such as the National Learning Recovery Program or ARAL, the School-Based Feeding Program, and Adopt-A-School, among others, through active collaboration with other education stakeholders. 

“Pero hindi ito kakayanin ng DepEd lamang. Kailangan natin ang LGUs, NGOs, private sector, at lahat ng partners upang mas mapabuti ang mga programa para sa ating mga bata. Sana sama sama tayo rito.” 

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who also joined the launch, said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to good governance. According to the DBM chief, DepEd and its attached agencies have been allocated a budget of P928.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2026, which could account for 4.1 percent of the country’s GDP pending House deliberations. 

“Our gathering today symbolizes that we are moving forward with a renewed and even stronger determination towards a Bagong Pilipinas that is accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of Filipinos. Maging bukas tayo para sa kinabukasan ng ating kabataan dahil bawat bukas ay mahalaga,” Pangandaman said. 

Through Project Bukas, DepEd envisions a culture of shared responsibility in education where communities, local governments, and development partners can work hand-in-hand with the national government to ensure that programs reach every learner in need. 

*All Photos from DepEd