ILOILO City – Rising fuel prices could reshape education policy discussions.
National education agencies have been urged to adopt blended learning as an immediate relief measure for students and families burdened by soaring transportation costs.
Iloilo City Lone District’s Cong. Julienne Baronda confirmed she has formally appealed to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to consider mixing online and face-to-face classes to ease daily commuting expenses.
The proposal, however, is not meant to fully replace traditional classroom learning, she emphasized.
“Indi mahimo nga dulaon ang face-to-face classes kay kinahanglan sang kabataan ang social interaction,” Baronda explained.
The proposal comes amid continued volatility in global oil markets, which has driven up local fuel prices and increased transportation costs for students, workers, and households.
Other lawmakers are also exploring short-term interventions, including the suspension of excise taxes on fuel products.
Transport operators, particularly those outside existing subsidy coverage, have also raised concerns over the sustained increase in fuel costs.
For long-term energy resilience, Baronda cited House Bill No. 8602, which proposes amendments to the Biofuels Act of 2006, allowing temporary importation of biofuel components during supply shortages.
As fuel costs continue to strain household budgets, the push for blended learning highlights how economic pressures are beginning to influence education delivery, even as DepEd and CHED have yet to issue an official response to the proposal./PN
