Manila: Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced that quality education and the safety of learners remain a priority under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Angara stated that the administration is focusing on key education and child welfare measures, including bills on classroom construction, and the prevention of online sexual abuse of children, as well as the expansion of education assistance.
According to Philippines News Agency, these initiatives are part of the administration's 21 priority bills following the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) full meeting of the 20th Congress held at Malaca±an Palace. Angara emphasized that the legislative priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to improving education access while enhancing the protection of learners.
Angara reiterated the President's commitment to expanding access to quality education and ensuring learner safety in both physical and digital environments. The priority bills include proposed amendments to the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, as well as amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act.
The proposed revisions for OSAEC and CSAEM aim to address emerging threats like artificial intelligence, deepfake technologies, and sexual extortion, while also enhancing cooperation with internet platforms, payment service providers, and law enforcement agencies. Angara highlighted that these legislative changes are in line with DepEd's ongoing initiatives to prevent and respond to abuse, violence, and exploitation of learners. These initiatives include the establishment of Learner Rights and Protection Desks in schools, the operation of the Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline for reporting abuse, and capacity-building programs for learner rights and protection specialists.
Additionally, the Marcos administration is prioritizing the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which aims to expedite the delivery of classrooms in public schools through partnerships with local government units (LGUs) and civil organizations.
To further address classroom backlogs, the DepEd has been actively collaborating with LGUs, other government agencies, and private stakeholders. On Wednesday, a memorandum of agreement was signed with LGUs to fast-track classroom construction in the Philippines, supported by 90 percent of provinces nationwide. This agreement formalizes a nationwide framework to accelerate school infrastructure delivery, signaling a decisive shift towards coordinated action in addressing classroom shortages.
