Iloilo city: The Department of Education in Western Visayas (DepEd-6) welcomed over 745,000 learners across the region as classes for the school year 2026-2027 officially began on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd-6 Regional Director Cristito Eco III emphasized their commitment to ensuring a smooth and effective rollout of the three-term school calendar. He highlighted that this structure is designed to distribute learning time evenly, enabling learners to attain required competencies while considering their well-being.
In a statement, Eco explained, "Through careful planning and coordinated efforts, we aim to maximize instructional time and improve learning outcomes throughout the school year." DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. elaborated on the school calendar, noting that each term includes sub-blocks. Unique to Term 1 is the opening block, where all assessments are conducted for baseline data. The instructional block spans from June 15 to September 1, focusing on school instruction and minimizing activities to prioritize instructional materials.
Following this is the end-of-term block from September 2-15, which caters to extra-curricular activities, in-service training, and the release of report cards. The second term will commence on September 16, while the third term is set to begin on January 4, 2027. Escullar mentioned that they anticipate an increase in the number of enrollees as the enrollment quick count is still ongoing.
In support of learners, the Iloilo City government initiated the distribution of school supplies to 75,000 target learners from Kindergarten to Senior High School in all public schools across the city on Monday. Mayor Raisa Tre±as spearheaded the distribution at the Iloilo City National High School, which is the largest public high school in the city with over 6,500 students. Ceremonial distributions were also held at Ramon Avance±a National High School and Manduriao National High School.
This initiative is part of the city government's ISKUL (Initiative to Share Kits that Uplift Learners) Program. In a media interview, Mayor Tre±as expressed plans to expand the program by adding more school supplies next year, potentially including school bags. She stated, "We will see what is doable here in the city, within our budget. But we will make sure this program, providing free school supply will continue next year."
