Angara ramps up field support for faster rollout of learning continuity spaces

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MAKATI CITY, April 23, 2026—Education Secretary Sonny Angara intensified technical support for field offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) to fast-track the nationwide expansion of Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS), ensuring learners in disaster-prone communities have safer, dedicated areas to study.



This strategic push aims to provide resilient facilities that allow classes to go on despite typhoons, infrastructure damage, and other major disruptions.



The initiative is backed by a PhP3.5 billion allocation under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) to prioritize schools with the most urgent structural needs or those dealing with severe classroom shortages.

 



“Sa direktiba ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, sinisiguro natin na may matibay na silid-aralan ang mga bata kahit may sakuna,” Angara said.



“Prayoridad ng administrasyong Marcos na walang mag-aaral ang mapag-iiwanan sa pamamagitan ng mabilis na pagtatayo ng mga de-kalidad na pasilidad sa bawat sulok ng bansa,” he added.



To ensure a seamless rollout, DepEd has already conducted two comprehensive webinars for Schools Division Offices (SDOs) and established online monitoring and personalized guidance sessions to provide immediate technical assistance to field offices.



This hands-on approach is further supported by an official digital communication group and frequently updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to maintain constant coordination between the DepEd Central Office and local implementers.

Significant procurement milestones have already been reached, with the SDOs of Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur officially posting tenders for dozens of new LCS units.

Meanwhile 29 other SDOs across the country are conducting pre-procurement conferences throughout April to finalize their respective project requirements.

By downloading funds directly to SDOs, DepEd enables immediate local procurement, ensuring that each LCS can be constructed and be fully functional within just one to two weeks.



The construction program emphasizes the use of local materials and local labor, which helps boost local economies while preventing logistical delays.



The LCS structures are engineered to meet standard climate-safety benchmarks, ensuring they remain secure even in high-risk environmental conditions.



President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Secretary Angara previously inspected the successful implementation of these modular hubs in Bogo City, Cebu; Masbate; and Tagum City, Davao.



The deployment of these resilient designs, combined with consistent monitoring, ensures that learners in vulnerable communities can return to safe learning environments without delay.



Through these proactive measures, DepEd remains committed to maintaining educational continuity regardless of the challenges posed by natural hazards.

DepEd, Pag-IBIG expand priority housing access for education personnel through housing fairs

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MAKATI CITY, 24 April 2026—Public school teachers and education personnel are set to benefit from streamlined processing and special privileges as the Department of Education (DepEd) secures priority access in the upcoming nationwide housing fairs of the Home Development Mutual Fund, commonly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara initiated the coordination with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Pag-IBIG Fund to support DepEd personnel facing challenges in securing homes due to rising property costs, limited financing access and lack of information on available housing programs.

 

"Sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagtulungan natin sa Pag-IBIG, sinisiguro natin na ang ating mga guro ay prayoridad sa programa sa pabahay ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Layunin nating pagaanin ang proseso para magkaroon sila ng sariling tahanan na abot-kaya at disente,” Angara said.

Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta expressed full support for the partnership, saying the agency is committed to providing specialized lanes and dedicated counselling to ensure educators are well-informed of their benefits.

“Sa Pag-IBIG Fund, lubos po naming kinikilala ang mahalagang papel ng ating mga guro at kawani ng edukasyon sa paghubog ng kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Kaya naman ang ating housing fairs ay isa sa mga konkretong paraan upang maisakatuparan ang direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos na mas ilapit sa mas maraming Pilipino ang dekalidad at abot-kayang pabahay, partikular sa sektor ng edukasyon,” Acosta said.

“Sa pakikipagtulungan natin sa DepEd, binibigyan natin ang ating mga guro ng priority access at gabay mula sa ating mga Lingkod ng Pag-IBIG sa mga gaganaping housing fairs, upang mas madali nilang mahanap ang tahanang disente, abot-kaya, at angkop sa pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya,” she added.

Through the Pag-IBIG housing fairs, DepEd personnel can explore affordable housing units, receive on-site counseling on financing terms and requirements, and initiate loan applications while availing exclusive offers for government employees.

The initial leg of the housing fairs are scheduled for April 27 to 28 at The Jose Rizal Coliseum in Calamba City, Laguna, and April 30 to May 1 at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City.

To facilitate a smoother experience, registered employees will be issued a Pag-IBIG Loan Value Card, which expedites evaluation at developer booths and allows for a preliminary loan assessment.

Depending on the number of pre-registered participants, Pag-IBIG has arranged shuttle services to transport personnel to the housing fair sites for added convenience.

This institutional push aims to replicate the success of long-time employees like Maridel Ignacio, who secured a home in Rizal province through a special housing loan facility of DepEd in partnership with Pag-IBIG. Ignacio availed of the loan facility for DepEd’s housing project in 1996, and now lives in a community alongside her fellow employees.

In partnership with DHSUD, Pag-IBIG is showcasing over 20,000 housing units during these events. Additional housing fairs are scheduled for Mindanao and Metro Manila to ensure broad accessibility.

To address concerns over affordability, Pag-IBIG has updated its product list to offer more affordable packages, including discounts of up to 45% on acquired assets, specialized group sales, and properties matching teachers’ salary brackets.

By providing direct access to developers and logistical support, DepEd continues to prioritize the long-term security of its dedicated teachers and staff across the country.

Angara orders nationwide teacher orientation ahead of major policy shifts for SY 2026–2027

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MAKATI CITY, 24 April 2026 — Heads of public schools across the country have begun orientation sessions as the Department of Education (DepEd) intensifies a nationwide effort to prepare schools for key teaching and learning reforms set for School Year 2026–2027.

The orientations, which start on April 24, aim to ensure that school heads are fully equipped to strengthen leadership readiness and management of the new academic protocols.

Regional and division planning conferences held earlier this month set the groundwork, followed by cluster-based orientations for school heads until the end of the month. Full orientations for teachers and school heads are scheduled from May 2 to 15.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the early start of orientations signals a more deliberate approach to reform implementation.

“Hindi puwedeng papel lang ang pagbabago. Kailangan ramdam ito sa bawat classroom,” he said. “We are making sure our school heads and teachers understand not just the ‘what,’ but the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’”

At the same time, Angara issued a clear directive to school heads to protect teachers from additional workload as reforms are rolled out.

“Habang pinapadali natin ang sistema, hindi puwedeng dinadagdagan ang trabaho ng guro. No unnecessary reports, no extra tasks that take teachers away from teaching,” he added.

Senior DepEd officials are personally leading the conduct of these orientations to ensure the direct and accurate delivery of policy updates across the regions.

To ensure maximum reach and flexibility, DepEd said these sessions may be conducted face-to-face, online, or through self-paced materials such as websites and video kits.

The department is also providing necessary resources, including materials and resource persons, to maintain high-quality training management support.

The orientations cover adjustments in how the academic year is structured under the three-term school calendar policy. This includes the introduction of an opening block at the start of classes dedicated to baseline assessments, school diagnostics, and early-year programs such as feeding initiatives.

This approach is meant to clear administrative and preparatory tasks before formal lessons begin, allowing teachers and learners to focus on instruction once classes are fully underway.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Learning Systems Strand Carmela Oracion clarified that the reorganization of the school calendar will not add new costs for families.

“The total number of school days remains the same. What we are changing is how time is used,” Oracion said, adding that expenses at the start of the school year will remain limited to usual needs such as uniforms, supplies, and daily allowances.

DepEd also underscored that part of the reform is easing the administrative burden on teachers, with school heads expected to streamline school-level requirements and align with national efforts to simplify workload.

Furthermore, the orientations will also cover related reforms on revised guidelines for classroom assessment and grading, lesson planning, flexible learning programs, updated protocols for learning continuity during emergencies, strengthened Senior High School curriculum and work immersion.

These strategic adjustments are specifically geared toward improving learning outcomes by providing a more stable and focused environment for both learners and teachers.