Emphasizing that lasting reforms can only be achieved through shared commitment and collective responsibility, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, June 17, underscored the importance of collaboration among various government agencies to address long-standing challenges in the education sector.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration to improve the delivery of basic education—especially amid infrastructure gaps, resource shortages, and evolving learning needs faced by students and teachers at the start of a new school year.

“Hindi lamang responsibilidad ng iisang sektor ang edukasyon (Education is not solely the responsibility of one sector),” Angara said during an inter-agency meeting, emphasizing the need for a whole-of-government approach to resolving issues in the education sector.

“Sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas, ang DepEd ay kumikilos nang sama-sama—kasama ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, lokal na pamahalaan, at ang buong komunidad—para sa kinabukasan ng kabataan (Under Bagong Pilipinas, DepEd acts collectively—together with government agencies, local governments, and the entire community—for the future of the youth),” he added.

President Marcos joined Angara in a ceremonial school opening visit to a public school in Manila on June 16, the first day of classes for public schools. He called on government agencies to prioritize the needs of the education sector with the opening of the new school year.

With the President leading the initiative, DepEd said the government’s actions for School Year 2025–2026 “reflect deeper commitment” to supporting the entire education sector.

According to DepEd, millions of Filipino learners returned to school this week and were welcomed by “smoother commutes, safer campuses, healthier classrooms, stronger internet, and more affordable school supplies.”

DepEd credited these improvements to the whole-of-government effort led by President Marcos.

Heeding the President’s directive, national agencies—led by DepEd—converged to support students and families in their return to school, aiming to make education more accessible, comfortable, secure, and learner-friendly.

During the inter-agency meeting, Angara reiterated DepEd’s commitment to ensuring that the government continues to focus on resolving issues in the education sector.

Under Angara’s leadership, DepEd has begun early delivery of laptops for teachers and non-teaching personnel, smart TV packages for classrooms, and textbooks for learners nationwide.

DepEd also mobilized communities and partner agencies through Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela to ensure schools across the country are safe, clean, well-equipped, and fully prepared to welcome learners for School Year 2025–2026.

To ease the financial burden on families, the Balik-Eskwela Diskwento Caravan was launched in Manila by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DepEd.

Spearheaded by DTI Secretary Cris Roque, the caravan offers discounted school supplies—ranging from notebooks and bags to uniforms and pencils—directly to communities, making back-to-school shopping more affordable for Filipino households.

Beyond affordability, this year’s school opening also prioritized health and safety.

The Department of Health (DOH) distributed “Bawat Bata Malusog” packages to 83 schools nationwide, providing learners with first aid kits, blood pressure monitors, weighing scales, disaster-readiness tools, and teacher self-care kits.

DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized that schools are critical spaces for promoting wellness among children and education personnel, aligning with the Universal Health Care Law.

DepEd also reported increased security efforts, with PNP Chief General Nicolas D. Torre III personally inspecting schools in Quezon City on the first day of classes.

Police officers were strategically deployed to ensure student safety, manage traffic, and prevent disruptions to learning. Parents and school staff welcomed the early engagement of the Philippine National Police as a sign of strong community support.

Meanwhile, DepEd highlighted improved connectivity for blended and digital learning through the efforts of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which launched free Wi-Fi access at Tibagan Elementary School in Bulacan.

President Marcos joined DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, Angara, and PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz in inspecting classrooms and evaluating digital readiness. The initiative strengthens the administration’s push to expand digital inclusion across public schools.

DepEd also noted that students commuting to school benefited from enhanced readiness across mass transport systems.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through MRT-3 and PCG K-9 teams, ensured safer and more efficient travel as classes resumed, with station inspections and security patrols in place—following the President’s directive to make public transport safe and reliable, especially for students.

DepEd said other agencies contributed behind the scenes to ensure classrooms and communities were ready.

The DPWH and MMDA addressed traffic flow and school infrastructure, DILG and LGUs coordinated local efforts, while DOE, MERALCO, MWSS, NTC, and PCO delivered essential utilities and real-time public information support.