President Marcos has led the distribution of learning resources to public school students in San Juan City, highlighting the importance of national-local government cooperation in improving education and expanding access to digital learning.

Speaking at Pinaglabanan Elementary School on Thursday, June 11, the President said the initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when local and national governments work together.

“Ang ginawa po natin dito ay nagtulungan ang national government at saka ang local government. At maraming magagawa ang local government at national government kapag nagsasama, maganda ang coordination (What we did here was bring together the national government and the local government. Local and national governments can accomplish a lot when they work together and have good coordination),” he said.

The President commended the San Juan City government for its education programs, including the distribution of learning materials and other support for students.

During his visit, Marcos inspected Grade 1 and Grade 3 classrooms where students demonstrated the use of tablets, smart televisions, and other digital learning tools.

The San Juan City government distributed 13,000 tablets to students in public schools across the city to support digital learning.

Learners also received school uniforms and rubber shoes from the local government.

Meanwhile, the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, distributed 1,000 school bags containing notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other school supplies for kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils.

The initiative aims to improve access to learning resources while helping reduce education-related expenses for families.

The President also stressed the need to continue supporting teachers, saying they play a crucial role in shaping the country's future.

“Kung ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan, nasa kamay ng ating mga guro ang pag-asa at ang kinabukasan ng buong Pilipinas (If the youth are the hope of the nation, then the hope and future of the entire Philippines are in the hands of our teachers),” he said.

“Kaya lahat po ng tulong ng mga teacher natin, lahat po ng tulong na maaari naming ibigay, binigay na po natin (That is why we are providing all the assistance we can to our teachers),” he added.

Marcos also attended the orientation of 105 Bagong Pilipinas Presidential Scholars representing the 21 barangays of San Juan City.

Addressing the scholars, the President reminded them that they would eventually become the country's future leaders.

“Kaya napakahalaga na kayo pagdating ng panahon, at darating ang panahon (That is why it is very important because the time will come)—it will be sooner than you think, when it is time for you to be the ones to run this country. Kayo ang magpapatakbo ng Pilipinas (You will be the ones who will lead the Philippines),” he said.

“Kaya napaka-importante na kayo ay handa na, na maganda na ang training ninyo, maganda na ang pinag-aralan ninyo (That is why you must be prepared, that you receive good training and a good education),” he added.

President Marcos encouraged the scholars to maximize the opportunities being given to them, describing education as a form of wealth that can never be taken away.

“Ang edukasyon ay biyaya — it is a treasure. It is a wealth that you will never lose ever until the day you die,” he said.

“Kaya't mag-aral kayo nang mabuti, pagtiyagaan ninyo talaga dahil ito ay kayamanan na maibibigay namin sa inyo (So study hard and persevere because this is a treasure that we can give to you),” he added.

The 105 scholars are beneficiaries of the Bagong Pilipinas Presidential Scholars Program funded through the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF).

Under the program, each barangay receives P100,000 to support five scholars, with each beneficiary receiving P20,000 in educational assistance.

Marcos said the government aims to support more than 200,000 Presidential Scholars nationwide through the program.

The President was joined by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, and other local officials during the event.