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Cayetano backs bill supporting remote schools in PH

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Cayetano backs bill supporting remote schools in PH

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano backed the Senate approval of a bill aimed at ensuring that every Filipino has access to quality education regardless of how remote their community may be.

This follows Cayetano’s signing of Committee Report No. 43 on GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Areas) Schools Act (Senate Bill No. 1937) prepared and submitted by the Senate Committee on Basic Education. It promotes inclusive access for vulnerable and disadvantaged learners in secluded areas.

Cayetano has long emphasized that education is key to providing Filipinos with better opportunities and a more stable future.

“When the education system becomes number one [in the priority], talagang gaganda ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Much more opportunities will come,” the Minority Leader said.

The proposed law ensures stronger government support for schools in remote, conflict-affected, and indigenous communities where students often face challenges such as long travel times, poor facilities, and limited learning resources.

Schools may be classified as GIDA if they lack electricity, use makeshift classrooms, hold multi-grade classes, require more than an hour of difficult travel to reach, serve many Indigenous learners, or are located in disaster-prone or conflict-affected areas.

Under the bill, the Department of Education (DepEd) shall create a National GIDA Schools Mapping System to help the government identify and prioritize these schools. The bill likewise mandates the adoption of an accessibility standard in its mapping to make sure students have a school within three kilometers of their homes or provide safe transportation options.

The measure also requires cooperation among government agencies. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will help build access roads, the Department of Energy (DOE) will support electrification, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will improve internet connectivity, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) will ensure the rights of Indigenous communities are respected.

Teachers assigned to GIDA schools will receive additional benefits such as hardship pay, housing support, and priority training. Local School Boards will also be required to set aside funds for these schools, while the DepEd must submit yearly progress reports to Congress.

A longtime education reform advocate, Cayetano previously served as co-chair of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and as Chairman of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education during the 19th Congress.

“Whatever we do now, that is what we will see in 2035, 2045, and 2050,” the senator said, reflecting on the long-term impact of education reforms.

Cayetano pabor sa panukalang suportahan ang mga paaralan sa liblib na lugar

Suportado ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang pag-apruba ng Senado ng panukalang batas na naglalayong gawing abot-kaya ang kalidad na edukasyon para sa lahat ng Pilipino kahit saan man sila nakatira. 

Sinabi ito ng senador matapos niyang pirmahan ang Committee Report No. 43 ng GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) Schools Act (Senate Bill No. 1937),  na inihanda at inihain ng Committee on Basic Education.

Layunin ng panukala na itaguyod ang inclusive access sa edukasyon para sa mga vulnerable at mahihirap na mag-aaral na nakatira sa mga liblib na lugar. 

Para kasi kay Cayetano, susi ang edukasyon upang magkaroon ng mas magandang oportunidad at mas matatag na kinabukasan ang ating mga kababayan. 

“When the education system becomes number one [in the priority], talagang gaganda ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Much more opportunities will come,” wika ng Minority Leader.

Tinitiyak ng GIDA Schools Act ang mas malakas na suporta ng gobyerno para sa mga paaralan na malalayo, apektado ng kaguluhan, at mga katutubong komunidad, kung saan mahirap pumunta sa eskwelahan, hindi maayos ang mga pasilidad, at limitado ang mga materyal sa pag-aaral. 

Maaaring maituring na GIDA School ang isang paaralan kapag hirap sila sa suplay ng kuryente, gumagamit ng mga pansamantalang silid-aralan, nagsasagawa ng multi-grade na mga klase, nangangailangan ng higit isang oras para pumasok sa eskwelahan at para maglingkod sa mga katutubong mag-aaral, at matatagpuan ito sa mga lugar na madaling maapektuhan ng kalamidad at kaguluhan. 

Inaatasan sa panukala ang Department of Education (DepEd) upang magsagawa ng National GIDA Schools Mapping System upang matulungan ang pamahalaan na tukuyin at bigyang prayoridad ang mga paaralang ito.

Nag-uutos din ito na magpatupad ng accessibility standard upang matiyak na ang mga mag-aaral ay may mapapasukan na paaralan sa loob ng tatlong kilometro mula sa kanilang mga tahanan, o kaya makapagbigay sila ng ligtas na mga opsyon sa transportasyon. 

Kailangan ng panukala ang kooperasyon ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Nakasaad dito na ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang tutulong sa pagtatayo ng mga access road, susuportahan ng Department of Energy (DOE) ang electrification, papahusayin ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ang internet connectivity, at titiyakin ng National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) ang paggalang ng mga karapatan ng katutubong komunidad. 

Hindi rin lugi rito ang mga gurong nakatalaga sa GIDA Schools. Makakatanggap sila ng karagdagang benepisyo tulad ng hardship pay, suporta sa pabahay, at mga pagsasanay. Maglalaan din ng pondo ang mga Local School Board para sa mga paaralang ito, habang ang  DepEd ay magsusumite ng taunang progress report sa Kongreso.

Matagal nang kampeon ng reporma sa edukasyon si Cayetano, na nagsilbi bilang co-chair ng Second Congressional Commission on Education o EDCOM 2, at Chairman ng Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education nitong 19th Congress.

“Whatever we do now, that is what we will see in 2035, 2045, and 2050,” sabi ng senador tungkol sa long-term impact ng mga reporma sa edukasyon.

Cayetano backs bill supporting remote schools in PH

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano backed the Senate approval of a bill aimed at ensuring that every Filipino has access to quality education regardless of how remote their community may be. 

This follows Cayetano’s signing of Committee Report No. 43 on GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Areas) Schools Act (Senate Bill No. 1937) prepared and submitted by the Senate Committee on Basic Education. It promotes inclusive access for vulnerable and disadvantaged learners in secluded areas. 

Cayetano has long emphasized that education is key to providing Filipinos with better opportunities and a more stable future.

“When the education system becomes number one [in the priority], talagang gaganda ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Much more opportunities will come,” the Minority Leader said.

The proposed law ensures stronger government support for schools in remote, conflict-affected, and indigenous communities where students often face challenges such as long travel times, poor facilities, and limited learning resources.

Schools may be classified as GIDA if they lack electricity, use makeshift classrooms, hold multi-grade classes, require more than an hour of difficult travel to reach, serve many Indigenous learners, or are located in disaster-prone or conflict-affected areas. 

Under the bill, the Department of Education (DepEd) shall create a National GIDA Schools Mapping System to help the government identify and prioritize these schools. The bill likewise mandates the adoption of an accessibility standard in its mapping to make sure students have a school within three kilometers of their homes or provide safe transportation options. 

The measure also requires cooperation among government agencies. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will help build access roads, the Department of Energy (DOE) will support electrification, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will improve internet connectivity, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) will ensure the rights of Indigenous communities are respected.

Teachers assigned to GIDA schools will receive additional benefits such as hardship pay, housing support, and priority training. Local School Boards will also be required to set aside funds for these schools, while the DepEd must submit yearly progress reports to Congress.

A longtime education reform advocate, Cayetano previously served as co-chair of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and as Chairman of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education during the 19th Congress.

“Whatever we do now, that is what we will see in 2035, 2045, and 2050,” the senator said, reflecting on the long-term impact of education reforms.

Cayetano pabor sa panukalang suportahan ang mga paaralan sa liblib na lugar

Suportado ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang pag-apruba ng Senado ng panukalang batas na naglalayong gawing abot-kaya ang kalidad na edukasyon para sa lahat ng Pilipino kahit saan man sila nakatira. 

Sinabi ito ng senador matapos niyang pirmahan ang Committee Report No. 43 ng GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) Schools Act (Senate Bill No. 1937),  na inihanda at inihain ng Committee on Basic Education.

Layunin ng panukala na itaguyod ang inclusive access sa edukasyon para sa mga vulnerable at mahihirap na mag-aaral na nakatira sa mga liblib na lugar. 

Para kasi kay Cayetano, susi ang edukasyon upang magkaroon ng mas magandang oportunidad at mas matatag na kinabukasan ang ating mga kababayan. 

“When the education system becomes number one [in the priority], talagang gaganda ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Much more opportunities will come,” wika ng Minority Leader.

Tinitiyak ng GIDA Schools Act ang mas malakas na suporta ng gobyerno para sa mga paaralan na malalayo, apektado ng kaguluhan, at mga katutubong komunidad, kung saan mahirap pumunta sa eskwelahan, hindi maayos ang mga pasilidad, at limitado ang mga materyal sa pag-aaral. 

Maaaring maituring na GIDA School ang isang paaralan kapag hirap sila sa suplay ng kuryente, gumagamit ng mga pansamantalang silid-aralan, nagsasagawa ng multi-grade na mga klase, nangangailangan ng higit isang oras para pumasok sa eskwelahan at para maglingkod sa mga katutubong mag-aaral, at matatagpuan ito sa mga lugar na madaling maapektuhan ng kalamidad at kaguluhan. 

Inaatasan sa panukala ang Department of Education (DepEd) upang magsagawa ng National GIDA Schools Mapping System upang matulungan ang pamahalaan na tukuyin at bigyang prayoridad ang mga paaralang ito.

Nag-uutos din ito na magpatupad ng accessibility standard upang matiyak na ang mga mag-aaral ay may mapapasukan na paaralan sa loob ng tatlong kilometro mula sa kanilang mga tahanan, o kaya makapagbigay sila ng ligtas na mga opsyon sa transportasyon. 

Kailangan ng panukala ang kooperasyon ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Nakasaad dito na ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang tutulong sa pagtatayo ng mga access road, susuportahan ng Department of Energy (DOE) ang electrification, papahusayin ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ang internet connectivity, at titiyakin ng National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) ang paggalang ng mga karapatan ng katutubong komunidad. 

Hindi rin lugi rito ang mga gurong nakatalaga sa GIDA Schools. Makakatanggap sila ng karagdagang benepisyo tulad ng hardship pay, suporta sa pabahay, at mga pagsasanay. Maglalaan din ng pondo ang mga Local School Board para sa mga paaralang ito, habang ang  DepEd ay magsusumite ng taunang progress report sa Kongreso.

Matagal nang kampeon ng reporma sa edukasyon si Cayetano, na nagsilbi bilang co-chair ng Second Congressional Commission on Education o EDCOM 2, at Chairman ng Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education nitong 19th Congress.

“Whatever we do now, that is what we will see in 2035, 2045, and 2050,” sabi ng senador tungkol sa long-term impact ng mga reporma sa edukasyon.

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