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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd pushes for stronger ties with DPWH, local governments to build more access roads to remote schools

DepEd pushes for stronger ties with DPWH, local governments to build more access roads to remote schools

Published Jul 19, 2025 11:16 am
Photo from DepEd
Photo from DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) called for enhanced collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs) to construct more access roads to public schools, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
In a statement, DepEd said the initiative supports President Marcos’ national goal of boosting infrastructure to improve access to essential services and aligns with the department’s mission to eliminate physical barriers that hinder education, especially in far-flung communities.
In a formal proposal submitted to the DPWH, DepEd recommended the inclusion of road access projects for public schools—especially newly constructed ones—in the agency’s programming and investment plans.
“Noong pumunta kami sa Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, nakita natin ang realidad. May mga estudyanteng kailangang tumawid ng ilog at umakyat ng bundok para lang makapasok sa paaralan (When we visited Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, we saw the reality. Some students have to cross rivers and climb mountains just to get to school),” said DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, recalling his recent field visit to last-mile schools in Mindanao.
“Hindi puwedeng puro classrooms lang ang itatayo natin kung wala namang daan papunta roon. Kung may farm-to-market road, dapat may road-to-school din (We can’t just build classrooms without also building roads to reach them. If we have farm-to-market roads, we must also have roads-to-school),” he added.
DepEd cited several successful inter-agency infrastructure programs led by the DPWH—such as the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) with the Department of Tourism, the Farm-to-Market Road Development Program (FMRDP) with the Department of Agriculture, and the ROLL-IT Program with the Department of Trade and Industry—as strong models for coordinated development.
To institutionalize the plan, DepEd is pushing for a special provision under its FY 2026 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) that would mandate road access for all newly constructed schools. The department is also urging the DPWH and LGUs to incorporate these road projects into their development planning, especially for schools that currently lack access routes.
DepEd emphasized that building access roads is crucial for inclusive education and for ensuring that “no learner is left behind.”
The department expressed its eagerness to work with the DPWH and LGUs in identifying priority locations and expediting the construction of roads to schools most in need.

Related Tags

DepEd access roads 2025 school infrastructure Philippines last mile schools DepEd DPWH road projects for schools DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara
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