Marcos to Agencies Power Up Schools with Steady Electricity, Internet Access
- July 7, 2025
As the new school year kicked off on June 16, President Marcos urged a more decisive push to fix persistent gaps in public education, from poor internet and power supply to overburdened teachers and struggling students.
During a visit to Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School on the first day of classes, Marcos underscored the urgent need to provide reliable electricity and water in all schools, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Speaking to reporters, he stated that he had instructed the agencies to prioritize these basic utilities, emphasizing that a proper learning environment depends on access to these essential services.
He stated, “Yung kuryente, or making sure na may kuryente lahat, may tubig lahat. ‘Yun ang mga basic services na makikita natin para naman maging maayos ang pag-aaral ng mga ating kabataan (Electricity—making sure that everyone has electricity—and water. Those are the basic services we need to see to ensure that our children can study properly).”
President Marcos also said he had ordered government agencies to work closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) to tackle pressing issues in schools. He also called on the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to boost internet coverage, pointing out that 40% of schools still lack online access.
While visiting the school, Marcos joined Grade 1 students in a reading activity using flashcards to encourage engagement and literacy. He also received a briefing on the school’s safety protocols, which include CCTV surveillance as part of its monitoring system.
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Multi-agency strategy
To ease staffing gaps, President Marcos said thousands of new teachers and school staff are being hired. He noted that 16,000 teaching posts were filled ahead of the school opening, with more hires underway as part of a broader recruitment push approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“We’re hiring 10,000 administrative staff to take care of paperwork and operations, so teachers can focus solely on teaching,” mentioned Marcos.
He also called on key agencies to find ways to ease the financial burden on families during the school year. He tasked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with identifying cost-cutting measures.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) was directed to ensure schools are equipped to handle medical emergencies, from sudden illness to minor injuries. The President also announced an expansion of the government’s feeding program starting this month, shifting greater focus to school-aged children as part of a broader nutrition effort that begins as early as pregnancy.
Additionally, the President also raised alarm over bullying and its impact on students’ mental well-being. He instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to take a more active role in tackling both in-school and online bullying, stressing the need to protect children’s mental health.
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A steady start for classes
Apart from physically visiting schools, the President also connected virtually with education officials nationwide through a brief video call. Based on their reports, he said the situation on the ground appeared to be running smoothly.
Speaking during his visit to Tenement Elementary School in Taguig, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the school year began without major issues, though he admitted some classrooms still need fixing. He described the challenges in the education sector as serious but not beyond control.
Angara said the school opening also marked the pilot launch of the revised K-12 curriculum in nearly 900 schools. On concerns about teachers handling multiple shifts, he noted that DepEd is reviewing options for providing overtime compensation.
“We are doubling efforts to hire more teachers so that our current lineup of teachers won’t be exhausted by filling in other roles,” he said.
To help maintain order on the first day of classes, the Philippine National Police stationed 37,000 officers across nearly 46,000 public and private schools across the country.
Sources:
https://plus.inquirer.net/news/priority-for-ph-schools-stable-power-internet
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1252214
