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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd welcomes Marcos' priority bills on classroom construction, child protection

DepEd welcomes Marcos' priority bills on classroom construction, child protection

CAP Act, OSAEC amendments, and expanded education assistance among 21 LEDAC priority measures

Published Feb 11, 2026 12:46 pm  |  Updated Feb 11, 2026 02:06 pm
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara (left) welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s (right) inclusion of classroom construction and child protection measures in the administration’s priority bills, saying the move reflects a balanced and forward-looking push to expand access to education while ensuring safer schools nationwide. (DepEd file photo)
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara (left) welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s (right) inclusion of classroom construction and child protection measures in the administration’s priority bills, saying the move reflects a balanced and forward-looking push to expand access to education while ensuring safer schools nationwide. (DepEd file photo)
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday, February 11, welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s move to prioritize key education and child protection measures, including the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, amendments to laws against online sexual abuse of children, and expanded education assistance.
The measures were included in the 21 priority bills approved during the third full meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for the 20th Congress, held at Malacañang Palace. Lawmakers are targeting the passage of these priority measures by June.
CAP Act to speed up classroom construction
Among the proposed measures is the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which seeks to establish a program under DepEd authorizing qualified local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations to propose and implement classroom construction projects in public basic education schools using national government funds.
The measure aims to help address the country’s persistent classroom backlog while allowing DepEd to adopt other modalities to expand school infrastructure nationwide.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the administration’s legislative priorities reflect a comprehensive strategy to expand access to quality education and ensure learner safety.
“Malinaw ang direksyon ng Pangulo na palawakin ang access sa dekalidad na edukasyon at tiyaking ligtas ang ating mga bata, sa loob man ng silid-aralan o sa digital na mundo (The President’s direction is clear: to expand access to quality education and to ensure the safety of our children, whether inside the classroom or in the digital world),” Angara said.
Even before the enactment of the CAP Act, DepEd said it had already intensified its school building program.
The flexibility provisions under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) form part of the Marcos administration’s response to the country’s classroom shortage, DepEd added.
Most recently, DepEd said it has partnered with all 82 provinces to support classroom construction efforts — a collaboration expected to be reinforced and institutionalized once the CAP Act becomes law.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/11/deped-lgus-sign-historic-agreement-to-fast-track-classroom-construction-nationwide
Stronger measures vs. online sexual abuse, deepfakes
DepEd also prioritized its 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.
Angara said the proposed amendments to the OSAEC and CSAEM laws aim to address emerging threats such as artificial intelligence-generated content, deepfake technologies, sexual extortion, and other forms of online abuse.
The changes also seek to strengthen coordination with internet platforms, payment service providers, and law enforcement agencies, he added.
DepEd noted that the proposed reforms align with ongoing initiatives to protect learners, including the institutionalization of Learner Rights and Protection Desks in schools, the operation of the Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline, and nationwide capacity-building programs that have trained hundreds of learner rights and protection specialists.
Aligning legislation with DepEd reforms
DepEd said the LEDAC priority bills complement its ongoing reforms, particularly accelerated classroom construction, strengthened learner protection mechanisms, and nationwide online safety awareness campaigns.
The LEDAC meeting brought together leaders of the executive branch, led by the President, and the legislative branch, led by Senate President Tito Sotto and House Speaker Bojie Dy III, to align priority measures and fast-track critical legislation.
With the CAP Act, strengthened anti-child abuse laws, and expanded education assistance on the priority list, DepEd expressed optimism that the administration’s legislative agenda will help improve learning conditions and ensure safer environments for Filipino students nationwide.

Related Tags

DepEd Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act CAP Act Philippines OSAEC amendments classroom construction Philippines DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara President Marcos
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