Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday said quality education and learners’ safety remain a priority under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Angara said this was shown by Marcos’ decision to prioritize key education and child welfare and protection measures, including bills on classroom construction, anti-online sexual abuse of children, and expanded education assistance.
These were among the measures included in the administration’s 21 priority bills following the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) full meeting of the 20th Congress held at Malacañan Palace.
In a statement, Angara said the administration’s legislative priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to improving access to education while strengthening learners’ protection.
“Malinaw ang direksyon ng Pangulo na palawakin ang access sa dekalidad na edukasyon at tiyaking ligtas ang ating mga bata, sa loob man ng silid-aralan o sa digital na mundo (The President’s direction is clear – to expand access to quality education and ensure that learners are safe inside the classrooms and in the digital world),” he said.
Included in the priority bills are proposed amendments to the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act; amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act; and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act.
Proposed revisions for OSAEC and CSAEM seek to respond to emerging threats such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI), deepfake technologies, sexual extortion and other online abuses, while strengthening coordination with internet platforms, payment service providers, and law enforcement agencies.
Angara said the proposed legislative changes align with DepEd’s ongoing initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to abuse, violence, and exploitation of learners, including the institutionalization of Learner Rights and Protection Desks in schools; the operation of the Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline for reporting abuse; and the rollout of capacity-building programs that have trained hundreds of learner rights and protection specialists nationwide.
Besides bills for learners’ safety and welfare measures, the Marcos administration also prioritized the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act.
Under the measure, a Classroom-Building Acceleration Program will be implemented in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and civil organizations to expedite deliveries of classrooms in public schools using national funds.
Even before the proposal, the DepEd has been ramping up efforts to speed up collaboration with LGUs, other government agencies, and private stakeholders to address classroom backlogs.
On Wednesday, the DepEd partnered with local government units (LGUs) to expedite classroom construction in the Philippines.
The memorandum of agreement, backed by 90 percent of provinces nationwide, formalized a nationwide framework to accelerate the delivery of school infrastructure, marking a decisive shift toward coordinated action to address the classroom backlog. (PNA)