BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Focused on real reforms and strong resolve a year after Secretary Sonny Angara took the helm, the Department of Education (DepEd) is showing progress in its efforts to carry out President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s education agenda and instruction in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Mula sa simula, malinaw ang layunin natin na makinig, ayusin ang kailangang ayusin, at itayo ang mga kulang. Bunga ito ng pakikinig sa mga guro, magulang, at mag-aaral sa mismong mga paaralan,” Sec. Angara said. 

Strengthening Early Education

One of the biggest milestones is the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program, which was recently launched. Starting this school year, all public Kindergarten learners will be included in the feeding program. 

To support child nutrition, DepEd will also be piloting Project SIGLA to automate the monitoring of learners’ health and nutrition. At the same time, construction has begun on 328 new Child Development Centers in poorest municipalities across the country.

Supporting Teachers

DepEd has also made big changes in supporting teachers. Out of more than 21,000 new teaching positions funded in 2024, 97 percent have already been filled. The same goes for administrative staff, with 99 percent of 5,000 new positions already taken. 

New ranks (Teacher IV to VII) were added to improve teacher career paths while more than 2,100 school heads are set to be reclassified into School Principal positions, moving closer to the goal of one principal for every school. 

DepEd also doubled the teaching supplies allowance to ₱10,000 and issued the first-ever medical allowance for teachers. Teachers in private schools will now receive a ₱24,000 salary subsidy, a ₱6,000 increase. Paperwork for public school teachers has also been cut by more than half, making daily tasks simpler and faster.

Responding to Classroom and Connectivity Gaps

The Department is also addressing classroom shortages, working with the private sector to build 105,000 classrooms to reduce the national backlog. By August, new modular classrooms will be designed for disaster-hit areas. 

DepEd is also collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Energy (DOE), and National Electrification Administration (NEA) to provide better connectivity and electricity supply to last mile schools. PSIP Connect, a PPP project, is also lined up to bring digital devices, solar power, and internet to remote schools.

Creating a Responsive Curriculum and Learning Recovery Strategy

The updated K to 10 curriculum now puts more focus on reading, writing, and basic math. The strengthened Senior High School curriculum, now being piloted to 900 schools nationwide, has a stronger connection to essential academic and tech-voc skills. 

Major gains in foundational literacy were also observed with the number of low emerging readers dropping through the Literacy Remediation Program (LRP) and Bawat Bata Bumabasa Program (BBMP) implemented during the summer break. 

Meanwhile, the Free TESDA Assessment Program now covers more learners, including those in ALS and technical-vocational programs. SHS graduates are now recognized by the Civil Service Commission as qualified for entry-level government jobs.

Improving Internal Systems

From 451 days, textbook process takes only 60 days for procurement, and 110 days for printing and delivery, under Angara’s watch. A digital registry for suppliers is also in place to improve transparency. 

For partners, DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program now has a dedicated website and a School Finder to connect donors directly with schools in need. The Department will also launch Project Bukas in August to give the public access to key DepEd data.

To support innovation, the Education Center for AI Research, or ECAIR, has been established. It will lead DepEd’s work in using digital and AI tools for learning. DepEd is also building digital tools such as Project LIGTAS for mapping school risks, and Project TALINO to find schools with urgent needs. 

Secretary Angara said that while much has been done, the work is far from over: “Marami pa tayong kailangang ayusin, marami pa tayong kailangang abutin. Pero habang pinagkakatiwalaan tayo ng taumbayan, hindi tayo titigil sa paglilingkod, para sa bawat guro, bawat magulang, at bawat batang nangangarap.” 

DepEd enters its second year under Angara with clearer direction: to make the education system more inclusive, more responsive, and ready for the future under the Bagong Pilipinas.

*All Photos from DepEd