DepEd champions Filipino literature to boost national literacy

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PASIG CITY, 12 March 2026 — Education Secretary Sonny Angara asserted that books are essential tools for enhancing the comprehension and skills of Filipino learners, as he formally opened the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 on Thursday.

The four-day festival staged by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Pasig City serves as the country’s premier showcase for Filipino- authored books and creative works.



“While we are moving forward toward digital transformation, we remain invested in what continues to matter– encouraging our learners to strengthen their literacy through books,” Angara said.

"Books serve as vital bridges connecting our learners to new knowledge and to their identity. Under the vision of President Bongbong Marcos, we continue to expand efforts to help students appreciate the power of books.”

Angara said DepEd has fast-tracked the delivery of textbooks to public schools through Early Procurement Activities (EPA), resulting in a massive 289 percent increase in approved textbook titles over the past year.

To sustain this momentum, PhP19.5 billion has been allocated for textbook production this year to move closer to a 1:1 textbook-to-learner ratio.

Angara said the NBDB also received PhP206.571 million for its budget this year to support authors and publishers and literacy-enhancement programs for the youth.

This year’s festival, which runs until March 15, includes interactive creative spaces such as Gubat ng Karunungan for workshops and masterclasses, and Lugar Lagdaan for author engagements.

An attached agency of DepEd, the NBDB was created in 1995 with the enactment of the Book Publishing Industry Development Act or Republic Act No. 8047 which was principally authored by Secretary Angara’s late father, Senator Edgardo J. Angara.

The NBDB serves as the country’s book authority, operating as the central agency for the publishing industry. It launched the Philippine Book Festival in 2023 to address long-standing gaps in the distribution and access to quality, affordable Filipino books.

DepEd urges learners to drive national progress through innovation

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QUEZON CITY, 11 March 2026—Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday encouraged learners to pioneer technology-driven solutions to pressing local and global challenges as he officially opened the 2026 National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF).



With this year’s theme, “Harnessing the Unknown: Powering the Future Through Science and Innovation,” the annual competition organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) serves as the nation’s top platform for high school learners to showcase groundbreaking research and innovations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Angara urged the country’s young scientists to spearhead practical solutions in critical sectors, including sustainable energy, food production and nutrition, and technology-enhanced disaster resilience.



The DepEd chief cited the recent international recognition of learners from Patin-ay National High School in Agusan del Sur for their research on medicinal plants, as proof of the world-class talent of the Filipino youth in research and development.



“In line with the vision of President Bongbong Marcos to leverage science and technology for a better quality of life, we urge our learners to pioneer solutions that address our most critical national challenges,” Angara said.



“By mastering rapidly evolving technologies today, the Filipino youth serve as the primary architects of a more innovative and resilient Bagong Pilipinas.”



The NSTF also serves as the official qualifying round for the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest pre-college science competition.



NSTF participants from around the country engage in various activities and competitions, including the Tuklas (STEM Research Competition) where students present projects in four categories: Life Science, Physical Science, Robotics and Intelligent Machines, and Mathematics and Computational Science.



The STEM Innovation Expo competition showcases market-ready solutions for issues such as food safety, water conservation, renewable energy, cybersecurity, and health.



The NSTF also features the STEM Academy conference and the Agham Bayanihan, a community exhibit where partner institutions demonstrate innovative technologies and services to the public.

The Seeds and Shells of Change: How the Women of Negros Occidental are Redefining Conservation

 

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In the mist-shrouded highlands of Sitio Tambara, the air is cool and the landscape is so lush it evokes scenes from a fantasy epic. Here, a quiet revolution is brewing—literally. The Tambara Forest Settlers Association, a women-led organization, is celebrating two decades of transforming muddy mountain trails into thriving coffee plantations. This group of 14 women and eight men has turned sustainable upland agriculture into a powerful tool for environmental conservation and financial independence.

From Retail to Robusta

Ronalyn Dela Vega once spent her days as a department store salesperson, but today she is the chair of the association, convincing customers to invest in high-quality coffee and cacao instead of clothes. The transformation is more than just personal; it is a community-wide shift toward ecological stewardship.

Premium Harvests: The association produces Fine Robusta Coffee, meticulously selecting only ripe, red cherries that sink in water—a sign of quality.

Aromatic Results: The final product, roasted and ground in the village, carries a distinct earthy, muscovado aroma and retails for approximately PHP750 per kilogram.

Beyond Coffee: Their efforts extend to other high-value crops like cacao, cinnamon, and various fruit-bearing trees, including marang and mangoes.

Ecological Anchors: These trees do more than provide income; they stabilize the soil to prevent landslides and floods while creating vital habitats for local bird species.

The Untapped Power of GAD

This mountain-top success story is part of a larger movement to mainstream Gender and Development (GAD) into environmental programs. Under Philippine law, every government agency is mandated to dedicate 5% of its annual budget to GAD initiatives. In Negros Occidental alone, this budget reaches roughly PHP340 million as of 2026.

UNDP-BIOFIN is working closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure these funds support projects where women take the lead in managing ecosystems. As UNDP-BIOFIN Philippines Project Manager Anabelle Plantilla notes, GAD is a vital "entry point" to ensure conservation projects are climate-resilient and gender-equal.

Harvesters of the Sea

The spirit of female leadership extends from the misty peaks down to the brackish rivers of San Enrique. In this coastal haven, the Luguay Talaba Growers Association—led by Juvy Guiñabo Jamaybay—continues a century-old tradition of oyster farming that began in Negros Occidental in 1921.

Generational Success: For Jamaybay, the industry is more than a livelihood; it is the reason all her children are now college graduates.

Economic Impact: With national production exceeding 50,000 metric tonnes annually, the oyster industry is valued at over PHP1 billion.

Silent Cleaners: Oysters are extraordinary "filter-feeders," with a single adult capable of filtering five liters of water every hour, removing nitrogen and absorbing carbon dioxide in the process.

Resilient Reefs: Unlike the more delicate coral reefs, oyster beds are fast-growing and remarkably resilient to the impacts of climate change.

A Shared Future

The success of these communities highlights a critical truth: conservation works best when both men and women share the responsibility and the rewards. These areas have also become destinations for ecotourism, with association members serving as bird guides for visitors coming to see migratory species like the critically endangered Great Knot.

As the sun sets over the wetlands, the lesson of Negros Occidental is clear: by tapping into gender-sensitive budgets and empowering local women, the Philippines is cultivating a future that is as sustainable as it is prosperous.