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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos orders Cabinet secretaries to ensure well-resourced schools nationwide

Marcos orders Cabinet secretaries to ensure well-resourced schools nationwide

Published Jun 16, 2025 12:45 pm
Stable electricity, water supply, access to internet and health facilities, and anti-bullying in schools were the things government agencies must address, President Marcos said during the opening of classes on Monday, June 16.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. interacts with Grade 1 students at the Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Malate, Manila on the first day of classes for the 2025–2026 school year on June 16, 2025. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. interacts with Grade 1 students at the Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Malate, Manila on the first day of classes for the 2025–2026 school year on June 16, 2025. (Mark Balmores)
Marcos made various directives to his Cabinet secretaries while visiting the Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Malate, Manila to ensure that students are able to focus on their studies, and not having to deal with issues such as lack of water, electricity, internet access, clinics, and bullying in schools.
The President instructed concerned agencies to address lingering water and electricity problems in schools around the country, this followed his visits to some schools dealing with the issues before the opening of classes.
“Yung kuryente, or making sure na may kuryente lahat, dahil may tubig lahat (Make sure that all have electricity and water),” Marcos said.
He directed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to expand the internet coverage in all schools, noting that only 60 percent of schools nationwide have access to it.
He also ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that students who may feel sick or get injured while in schools have a health facility they can run to.
“Ang DOH sinabi ko kailangan may health facilities lagi in case na magkasakit 'yung mga bata o magka-ah ma-injure ay meron lagi tayong nakaabang para sila ay sila ay gagamutin (I told the DOH that there must be health facilities in schools ready to treat in case students feel sick or get injured),” Marcos said.
The President further instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to intensify its anti-bullying efforts, citing mental health among students.
“[T]inututukan namin yung mga cyber bullying, yung mga bullying dahil nagiging malaking problema, dahil mental health problem ng mga bata dahil hindi maayos ang pagtakbo talaga may bullying hindi sila makapag-aral nang mabuti (We are monitoring closely cyber bullying, bullying incidents because it is becoming a big problem, threatening the students' mental health and due to bullying they cannot study well),” Marcos said.
He also instructed the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite the repair of damaged classrooms, comfort rooms, and hand washing stations and ensure the faster construction of schools, especially in villages affected by insurgency and in last-mile schools with no electricity or facilities.
In order to ease the burden of parents, he told the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure affordable prices of school supplies, and reminded the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to ensure students' fare discount in LRT, MRT, and other public transportations.
During his opening of classes inspection, the Chief Executive also reiterated the government's resolve to hire more teachers to ease the workload of teachers around the country.
He said they were able to hire 16,000 teachers, out of the 20,000 target. The move is aimed at freeing teachers from other administrative duties in order for them to focus more on teaching their students.
He also encouraged teachers to reach out to him if there are more things that need to be resolved.
“Kaya lahat ng mga teacher, naging teacher kayo para magturo, makakapagturo kayo nang mabuti. Kung ano pa ang inyong nakikita na puwedeng pagandahin pa, sabihan niyo kami (That’s why all of you became teachers — to teach, and you will be able to teach well. If there is anything you see that can still be improved, let us know),” Marcos said.
Sabihan ninyo ang DepEd na representative ninyo, kahit sa LGU, hanggang sa region, para malaman namin. Mga superintendent ninyo ay ibigay ninyo kung anuman ang sa inyong palagay ay maaari namin pang gawin para maging mas maganda ang takbo (Inform the DepEd representative, even at the LGU level, up to the regional level, so that we will be informed. Give your superintendents any suggestions or feedback on what you think we can still do to improve how things are run), Marcos added.
This year's opening of classes marked the return to the traditional June-to-March school calendar after a temporary shift during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The current school year (SY) is scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2026.
The DepEd projects that approximately 27 million students from preschool to senior high school will be enrolled for SY 2025–2026.

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