DepEd refines Lifelong Learning Law implementation rules to open doors for every Filipino

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

MAKATI CITY, 10 March 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) is enhancing the implementation of the Lifelong Learning Development Framework (LLDF) Act or Republic Act 12313 to provide opportunities for every Filipino to continue learning and developing, regardless of age or background.


The law aims to recognize skills learned through work or community training and credit them for formal education or certification.



The Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) recently conducted an online public consultation to fine-tune the draft Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the LLDF Act.

According to Education Secretary and PQF-NCC Chair Sonny Angara, the participation of various sectors is important to ensure that no Filipino is left behind in education and development.

“Our goal is to guarantee that no Filipino is left behind in our rapidly changing world by making quality education a lifelong journey rather than a one-time event,” Secretary Angara said.



The consultation held on February 27 gathered a diverse group of stakeholders—from barangay leaders and local government officials to industry partners and civil society groups.



Signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last October, the LLDF Act serves as a strategic policy to institutionalize lifelong learning opportunities across cities, municipalities, barangays and learning providers nationwide.



The law aims to support various ambitions — from farmers adopting new technology, to stay-at-home parents re-entering the workforce, or a senior citizen wanting to pick up a new craft — by providing institutional support directly within their communities.



During the consultation, PQF-NCC Permanent Secretariat Strategic Advisor Dr. Rafaelita M. Aldaba emphasized that the national commitment must move beyond legislation into practical, coordinated, and responsive systems.



Stakeholders suggested aligning the new rules with existing programs like the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) and the Philippine Credit Transfer System (PCTS). This means that skills learned through work experience or community training could be credited toward formal degrees or certifications.



Atty. Jhazen Binayan from the DepEd Legislative Liaison Office (LLO) presented the refined draft IRR, underscoring the need for inclusive language in the IRR and the recognition of varying capacities among local government units.



“The implementation of RA 12313 rests heavily on the participation of stakeholders who have taken the time to contribute to this public consultation,” Atty. Binayan said.



The discussions also touched on the importance of the family unit in the learning process, a concept already captured in the framework’s vision of a learning city, municipality, or barangay.



Director Maricor Anne DG. Cauton of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) stressed that technical assistance would be provided to help communities scale effective programs.



The PQF-NCC Permanent Secretariat and DepEd LLO are currently reviewing all inputs to finalize the rules, paving the way for a society where learning is not just a phase of life, but a lifelong right for every Filipino.

DepEd taps LGUs to bridge 165,000 classroom gap; eyes faster, flexible builds

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

PASAY CITY, 10 March 2026 — Education Secretary Sonny Angara rallied over 1,300 municipal mayors to address the persistent classroom crisis, unveiling a multi-channel roadmap to bridge the nationwide 165,000-classroom deficit.

Emphasizing that traditional procurement alone is insufficient, Secretary Angara detailed a strategic roadmap designed for faster, more flexible and more transparent school buildings construction.

"We are no longer content with the old system. We are changing the way we deliver to make it faster, more efficient, more effective, and more transparent,” Angara said during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly 2026 on Monday.

"Education is a shared responsibility, and our LGUs are the best-positioned partners to ensure these funds are translated into actual, usable classrooms for our learners.”

The plan includes the delivery of 30,000 classrooms through 2028 through conventional procurement, and 16,000 classrooms in high-congestion areas through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) under the recently approved PPP for School Infrastructure Project Phase III (PSIP III).

To reduce campus congestion, Angara said DepEd is exploring the expansion of vouchers to primary education and piloting a "4+1" blended learning model—four days onsite and one day online.

The Department is also looking to lease or acquire foreclosed private properties for the immediate use of about 1,000 classrooms, and mobilize private sector donations for 2,000 learning spaces.

Angara highlighted that under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, local government units (LGUs) are now empowered as primary implementers for school building projects alongside the Department of Public Works and Highways and the AFP Corps of Engineers, allowing mayors to identify specific sites for repair or new construction.

Angara promoted the use of pre-fabricated Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS), a cost- and time-efficient solution already piloted in Masbate and Davao del Norte, saying 2,571 units are slated for installation across 1,017 municipalities this year.

DepEd also encouraged municipalities to pool Special Education Funds (SEF) to finance large-scale programs like central kitchens for school-based feeding.

“We are not just sharing resources, we are actualizing President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s vision to modernize our classrooms through the kind of innovative funding that ensures no student is left behind by a lack of local budget,” Angara said.

Angara led the ceremonial signing of a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the DepEd and the LMP to formalize the nationwide classroom building acceleration.

DepEd has previously signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with provincial governors and city mayors to implement the special provisions of the GAA on school buildings construction.

Angara urged mayors to coordinate with provincial governors to tap into these new flexible construction provisions, enabling faster and more efficient delivery of much-needed classrooms. 

The Stage is Set for Resistance: PETA Unveils "Control + Shift: StudioLab 2026

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

For decades, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) has served as the heartbeat of People’s Theater, transforming the stage into a mirror for the Filipino soul. This April, that pulse quickens. From April 10 to 19, 2026, the PETA Studio Theater becomes a site of radical reimagining with the return of Control + Shift: Changing Narratives StudioLab.

Building on the momentum of its 2024 debut and 2025 festival, this year’s StudioLab is a "Brave Exploration on Narrative Change". It is a creative sanctuary where artists and community partners confront the "tough questions of our time," crafting stories that hold space for healing while envisioning more humane, democratic futures.

The 2026 showcase is divided into two powerhouse sets, each exploring the thin line between survival and systemic change.

Set A: When Power Falls into our Hands

This set dissects the gravity of choice in the face of normalized corruption and violence. When the system demands compliance, who among us will dare to interrupt it? 

CLEANERS: Written by Jhudiel Clare Sosa and directed by Julio Garcia, this play follows senior high students who realize their graduation requires more than just tidying classrooms. It is a tense exploration of what happens when the weight of truth lands in young hands.

MONIT-OH! MONIT-AH! (Restaging): Playwright Herlyn Alegre and director Norbs Portales return with a sharp forum theatre piece. Through Jaylord, a rookie waiter, audiences witness how a simple Christmas gift exchange can unmask the rot of the palakasan system.

Set B: When Care Becomes Survival

In landscapes scarred by war and disaster, care is no longer a luxury—it is an act of collective endurance and faith.

BAGA NG GUMUGUHONG LANGIT: Under the direction of Ian Segarra and written by Anj Heruela, this haunting work depicts orphaned children fighting for survival amidst the chaos of war, pleading for care from a world that has largely forgotten them.

AT NAGKATAWANG-TAO ANG VERBO (Restaging): Presented by Tanghalang Bagong Sibol, this play by Mikaela Regis and director Anthony Cruz breathes life into religious icons. In an urban fishing community along Ilog Tullahan, biblical imagery becomes a reflection of the daily struggle for dignity and hope.

Plan Your Visit: Show Dates and Tickets

Tickets are available now for Php 700 per set via Ticket2Me or at bit.ly/CS2026Tickets.

Set Dates & Times

Set A

April 10 (2 PM & 7 PM), April 12 (2 PM), April 18 (7 PM), April 19 (7 PM) 

Set B

April 11 (2 PM & 7 PM), April 12 (7 PM), April 18 (2 PM), April 19 (2 PM) 

Location: PETA Studio Theater, Quezon City, Philippines.

Be part of the shift. Follow @petatheater on social media for more updates as PETA continues to reclaim the Filipino narrative, one story at a time.