Wazzup Pilipinas!?
MANILA, 11 February 2026 — The Department of Education (Department of Education) on Tuesday welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to prioritize key education and child welfare and protection measures, including bills on classroom construction, anti-online sexual abuse of children, and expanded education assistance.
The measures were among the 21 priority bills approved during the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) full meeting of the 20th Congress held at Malacañan Palace. Lawmakers are targeting their passage by June.
Among the priority measures identified were the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act; proposed amendments to the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act; and amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino and Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Acts.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the administration’s legislative priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to improving access to education while strengthening the protection of learners.
“Malinaw ang direksyon ng Pangulo na palawakin ang access sa dekalidad na edukasyon at tiyaking ligtas ang ating mga bata, sa loob man ng silid-aralan o sa digital na mundo,” Angara said.
Under the proposed CAP Act, a Classroom-Building Acceleration Program will be established under DepEd, authorizing qualified local government units and civil society organizations to propose and implement classroom construction projects in public basic education schools using national government funds, without prejudice to other modalities that DepEd may adopt to address the classroom backlog.
Even ahead of the proposed CAP Act, Sec. Angara has already prioritized the expansion of the school building program, with the flexibility provisions under the 2026 General Appropriations Act serving as the Marcos administration’s response to the country’s classroom backlog.
Most notably, DepEd has recently partnered with all the 82 provinces in support of classroom construction efforts, which will be reinforced and institutionalized once the CAP Act is enacted.
Meanwhile, Angara shared that the proposed amendments to the OSAEC and CSAEM law aim to respond to emerging threats such as the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technologies, sexual extortion, and other online abuses, while strengthening coordination with internet platforms, payment service providers, and law enforcement agencies.
Angara said the proposed legislative changes align with ongoing DepEd initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to abuse, violence, and exploitation of learners, including the institutionalization of Learner Rights and Protection Desks in schools, the operation of the Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline for reporting abuse, and the rollout of capacity-building programs that have trained hundreds of learner rights and protection specialists nationwide.
The Education chief said the priority bills complement ongoing initiatives of the Department, including accelerated classroom construction, the strengthening of learner rights and protection mechanisms in schools, and nationwide awareness campaigns on online safety.
The LEDAC brings together leaders of the executive, led by President Marcos, and legislative branches, led by Senate President Tito Sotto and House Speaker Bojie Dy III, to align priority measures and fast-track critical legislation.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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