Revolutionizing Inclusion: DepEd Unveils Ambitious Overhaul for Learners with Disabilities

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a nation where inclusivity has often been overshadowed by systemic limitations, the Department of Education (DepEd) is now staging a dramatic transformation that may forever alter the Philippine educational landscape. In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s urgent call for equitable and accessible learning for all, DepEd has launched a series of pioneering reforms aimed at ensuring that no learner is left behind—especially those with disabilities.

With powerful momentum and renewed leadership under Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the department is championing a bold vision: an education system that breaks down barriers, embraces diversity, and harnesses technology to give every child—regardless of ability—a fair shot at a better future.

“The Department is fully committed to harnessing technology not only for instruction but also for decision-making, resource planning, and inclusive service delivery,” Secretary Angara declared in a meeting of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Council for Learners with Disabilities.

This Council, comprising key agencies such as DOH, DSWD, DPWH, DILG, DOF, NCDA, DOLE, TESDA, ECCD, CHED, and PRC, signals a whole-of-government approach. The urgency is clear: millions of Filipino children with disabilities have for too long been neglected, sidelined by insufficient infrastructure, outdated methodologies, and a severe lack of trained educators.

But change is not only coming—it’s already in motion.

From SPED Centers to Inclusive Learning Resource Centers

One of DepEd’s most ambitious undertakings is the transformation of Special Education (SPED) Centers into Inclusive Learning Resource Centers (ILRCs). These centers will serve as localized hubs of learning support, ensuring that every city and municipality has a gateway to inclusive education.

These ILRCs will not remain static or confined to brick-and-mortar spaces. Plans include virtual and satellite ILRCs, with institutionalized multi-disciplinary teams comprised of educators, therapists, and support personnel. Importantly, these teams will operate under sustained funding, ensuring their continued service and effectiveness.

It’s a vision that reimagines the very architecture of how education is delivered.

Alternative Learning Reinvented

For learners who cannot access traditional classrooms, DepEd is enhancing its Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM) and Alternative Learning System (ALS). These programs are being recalibrated with a special focus on capacity-building, real-time policy monitoring, and the integration of assistive technology and artificial intelligence—an innovation that promises personalized, adaptive learning for students with varied needs.

From mobile learning kits to AI-driven educational content, the future of inclusive learning is not only digital—it is dynamic and deeply personal.

SABAY: AI that Empowers, Not Replaces

At the core of this revolution is a technological marvel in the making: the SABAY Project (Screening using AI-Based Assistance for Young Children), spearheaded by the DepEd-Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR). This AI-powered tool is designed to identify potential developmental disabilities early, reducing screening time while lifting the burden from overworked teachers.

“Through the SABAY Project, we affirm our mission that every Filipino child—regardless of ability—deserves timely support and access to quality education,” Secretary Angara emphasized. “We are making sure that learners with disabilities are no longer left behind.”

Dr. Erika Legara, ECAIR Managing Director, underscored the importance of building AI tools that are interpretable, practical, and grounded in real-world educational contexts.

“We’re designing ways to automate parts of the screening process to help make school-level decision-making more efficient,” she said. “The goal is not just speed, but clarity and impact.”

Currently in its early stages, the SABAY project is being crafted in collaboration with the Bureau of Learning Delivery – Student Inclusion Division (BLD-SID), as well as special education experts and healthcare professionals. Pilot data collection begins in select schools in Metro Manila, with national expansion already on the horizon.

Unity for Inclusion: A Whole-Nation Effort

What sets this initiative apart is the unprecedented synergy between government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. Specialized training for educators in Special Needs Education (SNEd) is being scaled up, and access to customized learning materials is being democratized.

These aren’t isolated moves—they form a cohesive, strategic blueprint for a more compassionate and inclusive Philippines.

A Future Where Every Learner Counts

What DepEd is attempting is nothing short of a national awakening—a refusal to allow the invisible walls of disability to define the educational potential of any child. The department's initiatives are not just about technology or infrastructure; they’re about dignity, justice, and equality.

For countless Filipino children with disabilities and their families, these reforms represent hope—a powerful, long-overdue promise that they, too, belong in the nation’s classrooms and dreams.

And as DepEd presses forward, the message is clear: the era of exclusion is ending. The era of inclusive, empowered learning has begun.

Waves of Wisdom: Catanduanes Student Wins National Title in PHLPost’s 54th UPU International Letter Writing Contest

Wazup Pilipinas!?

In an era dominated by instant messaging and digital chatter, a single handwritten letter has made waves strong enough to cross oceans—literally and figuratively. The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) proudly announced the national winners of the 54th Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, a global initiative that elevates the timeless art of letter writing. This year’s theme, “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you,” invited the youth to channel the voice of our planet’s most vital resource—and one student did just that, with remarkable clarity and emotion.

At the heart of this national celebration is Mikaela Ashika Vargas, a student from Catanduanes National High School, whose poetic and impassioned letter rose above submissions from across the country. With a voice as vast and stirring as the seas she embodied, Vargas gave the ocean a soul—and with it, a cry for help that was impossible to ignore.

“I'm the ocean near the Philippines, but really, I’m just a small part of something much bigger. I’m connected to all the other oceans and seas around the world. Water moves, creatures travel, and the winds above me carry my warmth and storms across the planet. What happens to me does not stay with me — it reaches you too!”

Her poignant words not only won her the national first prize of ₱25,000, a medal, and a certificate—but also the honor of representing the Philippines in the international competition to be held in Berne, Switzerland, where the world will listen to the voice of the ocean through the pen of a Filipino youth.

Following closely in this wave of brilliance are the second-place winner Aime Renny B. Suon from Agusan National High School in Butuan City, who receives ₱20,000, and the third-place winner Jayden Lyle Darcy V. Tonosgan from Antique Vocational School in Bugasong, Antique, who takes home ₱15,000. Both students will also receive medals and certificates, a testament to the depth and creativity of their writing.

Beyond the prizes, however, lies a deeper purpose. The competition, sponsored by the UPU—a specialized agency of the United Nations in which PHLPost is an active member—is not just about winning. It aims to develop young people’s composition and communication skills, rekindle the fading joy of letter writing, and above all, foster international friendship through personal expression.

This year’s theme echoes the urgency of today’s environmental crises and aligns closely with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The ocean, often taken for granted, was given a human voice—one that longs to be heard, respected, and protected.

The esteemed panel of judges—Ms. Melanie Viloria-Briones, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the City College of San Fernando Pampanga and founder of the School Press Advisers Movement Inc.; Dr. Rachelle Bellesteros-Lintao, President of the Linguistic Society of the Philippines and UST professor; and Mr. Archie Bergosa, Editor-in-Chief of Explained PH from UP Los Baños—had the herculean task of selecting from letters that were not only eloquent but emotionally resonant and rich with insight.

In celebrating young voices like Mikaela’s, this competition proves that the pen remains mighty. More than a contest, it is a clarion call—written in ink, carried by post, and destined to stir minds and hearts across continents.

As her letter sails into international waters, Mikaela Ashika Vargas is not just representing the Philippines. She is speaking for the ocean—for its depth, its power, and its plea. And the world, we hope, is listening.

Let this be a reminder: the ocean has written. Now it’s our turn to respond.

Launch of the Register of Well-Known Marks: Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) marked a significant milestone in the country's intellectual property (IP) landscape on April 28, 2025, with the official launch of the Rules and Regulations for the Declaration and Creation of the Register of Well-Known Marks. This landmark initiative, celebrated during National Intellectual Property Month, aims to enhance protection for trademarks that have gained extensive recognition in the Philippines.

A New Era for Trademark Protection

"This Register will ensure the creation of a safer environment for IP owners, enhance enforcement of IP rights, and protect consumers from fraudulent activities," declared Deputy Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo during his introduction of the project. The Register represents the culmination of efforts that began in 2024, including policy dialogues with the International Trademark Association (INTA) and public consultations with stakeholders.

The establishment of this official registry aligns the Philippines with international standards, particularly the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which mandates member nations to safeguard well-known marks against the use of identical or similar signs that may cause confusion or dilute their reputation.

What Makes a Mark "Well-Known"?

According to the new regulations, well-known marks are those with widespread recognition within relevant sectors of the public. Before receiving this special status, marks must be declared well-known by a competent authority—either the IPOPHL Director General, the Bureau of Legal Affairs, the Director of Trademarks, or any court with competent jurisdiction.

Previously, IPOPHL had maintained an internal catalog of well-known trademarks used in examination processes and trademark disputes. Examples of marks declared well-known include Facebook, Apple, Harvard University, and Harry Potter.

The newly launched rules expand the authority to declare a mark well-known to include the Director of Trademarks in an ex-parte proceeding—a significant departure from the previous requirement that such declarations could only be made during adversarial proceedings like opposition cases or infringement actions.

Enhanced Protection and Procedures

Once a mark is declared well-known and entered into the Register, it receives substantial legal protection, including the exclusive right to prevent others from using identical or confusingly similar marks on related goods or services. For registered marks recognized as well-known, this protection extends even to dissimilar goods or services if such use would suggest a connection to the owner of the registered mark and potentially cause damage.

Director General Brigitte M. da Costa-Villaluz emphasized in her opening remarks, "Well-known marks are not only mere symbols for products or services but also pillars that represent quality, integrity, and consumer loyalty."

The declaration of well-known status lasts for ten years from the date of declaration and is renewable for ten-year periods, subject to the submission of required Declarations of Actual Use.

Application Process and Oversight

The application process for recognition of well-known status follows similar requirements to regular trademark applications but with key differences:

Applications must be notarized

Evidence must be submitted showing compliance with criteria laid out in Rule 5 of the Regulations

Applications are filed electronically through a designated email

Instead of the traditional opposition process, the regulations introduce a third-party observation mechanism to contest declarations of well-known status. A special consultative committee composed of an Intellectual Property Rights Specialist, the Assistant Director of the Bureau of Trademarks, and an Adjudication Officer from the Bureau of Legal Affairs will evaluate these observations.

Leadership and Vision

The event featured prominent figures from IPOPHL 

Director General da Costa-Villaluz, drawing from her experience as an IP lawyer in the private sector, emphasized that the Register reflects "IPOPHL's resolve to create an environment where creativity, enterprise, and innovation can thrive, with IP protection at the heart of it."

Looking Forward

The launch of the Register of Well-Known Marks represents a pivotal advancement in the Philippines' intellectual property framework. By providing stronger protection for established brands, the initiative aims to foster innovation, enhance consumer confidence, and strengthen the country's position in the global intellectual property landscape.

As the Philippines continues to refine its trademark system and streamline administrative procedures, this new Register promises to secure the growth and development of locally-owned brands, making them more competitive both domestically and globally.

The event concluded with a ceremonial filing, followed by an open forum and press conference led by key IPOPHL officials, reinforcing the organization's commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement in this significant milestone for Philippine intellectual property protection.