BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presided over the 1st Council Meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for the 20th Congress, where the Department of Education (DepEd) called on Congress to prioritize key amendments in education laws, including the school-based feeding and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program. 

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the inclusion of DepEd’s priority measures in the Executive’s LEDAC list underscores the urgency of passing reforms that directly address access, equity, and accountability in education programs. 

“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, dapat tiyakin natin ang ating mag-aaral ay may sapat na nutrisyon, kalidad na guro, ligtas na paaralan, at pantay na oportunidad—mapa-publiko o pribado man sila nag-aaral. Ang mga panukalang ito ay konkretong hakbang upang hindi maiwan ang kahit isang mag-aaral,” ani Angara. 

The priority education bills endorsed to Congress include:

1.     Amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act (RA 11037): Expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program to 160 feeding days and universal feeding for Kindergarten to Grade 3; inclusion of marginalized groups such as indigenous learners and adolescent mothers; allowance of milk-based substitutes for the Milk Feeding Program; weekly micronutrient supplementation for female learners; and establishment of Central Kitchens in every School Division Office, among others.

2.     Amendments to the E-GASTPE Act (RA 8545): Institutionalization of anti-fraud mechanisms through centralized verification, audits, whistleblower protection, and data-sharing with other agencies; expansion of voucher coverage to Kindergarten through Senior High School learners and teachers, among others.

3.     Amendments to the Teacher Professionalization Act (RA 7836): Enhanced scope of licensure examinations, diversification of the Board for Professional Teachers, and flexibility to allow non-licensed teachers/experts to teach provisionally, among others.

4.     Amendments to the Local Government Code – Special Education Fund (SEF): Raising the SEF levy from 1% to 2% of assessed property value and expanding allowable uses to cover operations of special education, IP and madrasah classes, open high schools, flexible learning, school site acquisition, and school building maintenance, among others.

DepEd also manifested its support to the Classroom Building Acceleration Bill to fast-track the construction of classrooms nationwide by providing flexibility and engaging more partners in the implementation.

Angara emphasized that strengthening these programs is essential to deliver better learning outcomes and to give every Filipino learner a fair chance at success.

DepEd added that collaboration with Congress, local government units, and development partners will be critical in ensuring that these reforms are fully implemented once passed into law. 

*All Photos from DepEd