MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the government is monitoring bullying incidents among students as classes for School Year 2025-2026 started on Monday.
According to the Chief Executive, the government is focused on addressing bullying of any type as students are having a difficult time in their studies when being bullied.
“Tinututukan namin ‘yung mga cyberbullying. ‘Yung bullying nagiging malaking problema, mental health problem ng mga bata dahil hindi maayos…hindi sila nakakapag-aral nang mabuti,” Marcos said.
Marcos also said he had instructed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to widen and improve internet coverage across the country so that it may reach schools in far-flung areas.
“Sa ngayon, ang eskwelahang may internet ay around 60% lamang, napakababa,” Marcos said.
“Inaayos namin ‘yan, inuuna natin yung mga underserved [areas],” the President added.
Aside from internet services, President Marcos also tasked the Department of Education to prioritize the provision of essential utilities — particularly electricity, water, and internet — in public schools to improve learning conditions.
“Make 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,” Marcos said.
He added: “Nabanggit ko sa ating mga guro na lahat ng departamento ng pamahalaan ay naka-converge dito, sama-samang nagtutulungan.”
Marcos inspected the opening of classes at Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School, together with Education Secretary Sonny Angara. Aside from visiting the classrooms and greeting the kids, Marcos even had a reading session with the students.
According to DepEd, some 27 million students from preschool to senior high school will be enrolled for the School Year 2025–2026, which marks the return to the traditional June-to-March school calendar after a temporary shift during the coronavirus pandemic.
The current school year is scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2026./PN
