QUEZON City – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has committed to accelerating digital connectivity in public schools, especially those in far-flung and underserved areas, as part of his administration’s broader push for inclusive digital transformation in education.
Speaking during a visit to Flora A. Ylagan High School in Diliman, Quezon City, Marcos led the launch of a school connectivity initiative in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The program aims to address the digital gap by improving internet access, bolstering infrastructure, and providing technology to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
“Kailangan connected lalung-lalo na ang mga school kaya’t mabuti nagkakaroon at dumarami na yung school natin na connected na. Kaya ipagpapatuloy natin yang programang ‘yan,” the President said.
Marcos visited a Grade 11 class and held a virtual dialogue with teachers and students from remote areas, who shared how the new connectivity and electricity services are already improving their learning conditions.
Teachers expressed gratitude for the infrastructure support, noting that the enhancements will enable students to access online learning resources and continue their studies even during extreme weather events.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who joined the event virtually from an Indigenous Peoples school in Agusan del Norte, reported that Higaonon students in the area recently received electricity in time for the June 16 school opening.
“They got their electricity first (on) Monday, thanks to the quick work of NEA (National Electrification Administration) and DOE (Department of Energy),” Angara said.
The initiative is part of a nationwide effort to modernize the Philippine education system and ensure no learner is left behind due to lack of connectivity./PN
