DepEd sets sights on realizing system reforms, program promises in National Planning Conference

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

MAKATI CITY, 04 February 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) outlined the agency’s forward-looking plans to reform and strengthen the education system during its National Planning Conference—anchoring policy directions, strategic priorities, and implementation roadmaps on the recommendations put forward in the Final Report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

"Para sa taong ito, kinakailangan nating ilatag ang ating mga prayoridad upang masigurong bawat sentimo sa ating 2026 budget ay magagamit nang wasto. We owe it to our teachers and learners to deliver the highest quality education possible," Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

During the discussions, DepEd underscored the need to strengthen the Learning System through the seamless integration of curriculum, teaching and learning processes, assessment, learning materials, teacher training, and alternative learning delivery modalities.

For 2026, the Department will prioritize the review and consolidation of Special Curricular Programs, while sustaining the implementation of the strengthened Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, including the expansion of Grade 12 elective offerings. Learners will also be provided with clearer post-K to 12 pathways through the rollout of the National Entrepreneurship Challenge.

In terms of learning resources, the agency reported that the majority of textbooks have already been procured and are expected to be delivered by June, in time for the opening of the next school year. This will also support the full implementation of the Strengthened SHS program across public schools nationwide.

The Department likewise reiterated that a key priority for the year is the enhancement of school-based staffing. DepEd is targeting the filling of 32,916 new teaching positions; 6,000 Principal I items; 11,268 Administrative Officer II items; 5,000 Project Development Officer I items; and 10,000 School Counselor Associate I items. In addition, more than 100,000 teachers are set to receive their “long overdue” promotions under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System.

Human resource reforms will shift toward transformational workforce development, supported by artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platforms for workforce planning, assessment of school head applicants, human resource deployment, and the streamlining of school forms. These initiatives also support the agency’s broader efforts to integrate technology into basic education.

To uphold its learner-centered mandate, DepEd will also intensify learning recovery and continuity measures aimed at preventing learning losses caused by natural disasters, classroom congestion, malnutrition, absenteeism, and bullying.

The Department also highlighted the increase in budget allocation for schools’ Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE)—from P48 billion in 2025 to P60 billion in 2026—to ensure that school heads, personnel, and teachers are sufficiently supported in implementing programs and initiatives on the ground.

"Sa tulong ng pondong ipinagkaloob sa atin ng ating mahal na Pangulo, President Bongbong Marcos, at ng Kongreso, patuloy nating isusulong ang mahahalagang reporma sa edukasyon—para sa Bagong Pilipinas," Secretary Angara said.

Attended by officials from the Central and field offices nationwide, the conference focused on comprehensive discussion of the Five-Point Reform Agenda and the Quality Basic Education Development Plan (QBEDP). The Department emphasized the imperative for reforms to be coherent, data-driven, and resilient—ensuring alignment across policy, planning, and execution.

Wazzup Pilipinas: The Digital Titan That Became the Voice of the Filipino Nation

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In an era where digital noise often drowns out authenticity, one platform has risen above the chaos to become more than just a blog—it is a movement. Wazzup Pilipinas, hailed as the Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas (National Blog of the Philippines), was born from the vision of Ross Flores Del Rosario, a former United Nations ICT officer who traded circuit boards for keyboards to amplify stories that matter to Filipinos at home and abroad.

 

From Engineering Labs to the Heart of the Nation

 

Ross Flores Del Rosario’s journey began not in media, but in the rigorous halls of Mapúa Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering. His career took him to the frontlines of global aid as an ICT officer for the UN World Food Programme, where he witnessed a profound disconnect: the stories of ordinary Filipinos—from rice farmers in Ifugao to fishermen in Bicol—were invisible in mainstream and international news.

 

“Every time I’d visit far-flung communities, I’d meet incredible people doing amazing things,” Ross recalls. “But you’d never read about them in the papers. I realized we had all the tools to connect these stories—we just needed someone to flip the switch.”

 

In March 2013, he took that leap, launching Wazzup Pilipinas as a personal blog documenting his travels and daily life. The breakthrough came when he covered a small community festival in Rizal Province—an event ignored by major outlets. His post, filled with vibrant photos and heartfelt interviews, went viral, drawing thousands of comments: “Finally, someone is telling our story!”

 

A Platform Built on Courage and Community

 

What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a powerhouse of Filipino digital media. Wazzup Pilipinas has since earned dozens of accolades, including Top Filipino Community Blog, Most Outstanding Community Blog in Southeast Asia, and the National Customers’ Choice Award for Most Outstanding Social Media Influencer/Online Community in 2023. These honors are more than trophies—they are validation of a mission to prioritize truth over trend, community over clicks, and purpose over profit.

 

The platform’s content spans travel, culture, business, advocacy, and current events, with a focus on uplifting Filipino voices. It has partnered with institutions like the Department of Tourism to promote local destinations, collaborated with Worldbex Services International to showcase Filipino innovation, and worked with NGOs like Save the Children Philippines to drive social change. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wazzup Pilipinas became a lifeline for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), helping them recover by amplifying their stories and products to a global audience.

 

More Than a Blog—A Movement for Positive Change

 

Beyond news and features, Wazzup Pilipinas is on a mission to reshape online content culture. Through its Umalohokan Influencers and Content Creators Workshops, the platform trains emerging creators to produce content that is morally, ethically, and legally aligned—a direct response to the rise of sensationalism and harmful material on social media. Ross believes that influencers have a responsibility to “project a better image of the Philippines, because it’s the Filipino people who make it more fun here.”

 

Today, Wazzup Pilipinas is a multi-platform community with a vibrant presence on websites, social media, and YouTube, reaching over 1.4 million monthly views as of July 2024. It has forged partnerships with global brands like VRITIMES to expand its reach, while staying rooted in its promise to be “unfiltered, unbought, and undeniably Filipino.”

 

The Legacy of a National Voice

 

Ross Flores Del Rosario, now known nationwide as the Pambansang Blogger, never set out to build a media empire. He set out to tell a story—our story. From its humble beginnings to its status as a digital titan, Wazzup Pilipinas remains a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose. It is a platform that not only reports on the Philippines but celebrates it, proving that in the hands of someone who cares deeply, a blog can become the heart of a nation.

DepEd presses completion of unfinished classrooms, broadens delivery options for 2026

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 




MAKATI CITY, 5 February 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) is intensifying efforts to complete unfinished classroom projects nationwide, even as it prepares to broaden delivery options starting 2026 to address long-standing gaps in basic education facilities.

For previous years, classroom construction for public schools has largely been implemented through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is mandated to undertake the construction of school building projects.

 



“Batay sa pinakahuling datos, lagpas 8,000 classroom projects ang sabay-sabay na tinatrabaho para sa 2024 at 2025. Nasa 3,600 classrooms na ang natapos ng DPWH, at ang natitira ay patuloy na tinututukan para agad makumpleto at magamit ng ating mga mag-aaral,” Angara said.



DepEd is working closely with DPWH to resolve unfinished projects carried over from earlier years and ensure that classrooms are completed and turned over for use by learners.

The Department also confirmed that it maintains an inventory of unfinished classroom projects from previous years. To address these backlogs, DepEd proposed Php3.192 billion under the 2026 national budget to complete 3,614 classrooms. Congress approved Php2.282 billion, enough to fund the completion of 2,067 classrooms.


Despite funding constraints, Angara said it is pressing ahead with concrete measures to fast-track completion, in line with the President’s directive to prioritize school infrastructure and learner safety.


As part of this effort, DepEd and DPWH are jointly conducting nationwide validation activities covering 384 schools with unfinished or for-completion classroom projects. The validation seeks to confirm the physical status of each project, remaining scope of work, funding gaps, and site readiness, so that classrooms can be prioritized for immediate completion.


Angara added that while ongoing DPWH projects are being addressed, DepEd is also laying the groundwork for more flexible approaches to classroom delivery beginning in 2026.


“Sa mga nagdaang taon, sabay-sabay naming inaayos ang mga naiwan at hindi natapos na silid-aralan. Para sa 2026 pataas, mas pinalalawak namin ang mga opsyon—kasama ang mas aktibong partisipasyon ng LGUs at iba pang flexible approaches tulad ng public-private partnerships—para mas mabilis at mas akma sa pangangailangan ng bawat komunidad ang solusyon,” Angara said.


As part of the government’s continuing efforts to address the classroom shortage, Angara met with mayors from the National Capital Region on February 4. During the meeting, DepEd presented the guidelines for school building projects under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, including eligibility requirements for local government units and other options to address classroom needs, such as leasing and repair of existing facilities.


Angara noted that discussions on classroom construction targets for the DPWH’s implementation for 2026 are ongoing.


“Mayroon ding naka-program para sa 2026, bagama’t patuloy pa itong pinag-uusapan. Ayon kay Secretary Vince Dizon, nasa humigit-kumulang 1,500 hanggang 2,000 classrooms ang target na maipatayo sa ilalim ng new construction para sa 2026,” he shared.


Angara stressed that close collaboration between DepEd, DPWH, local government units, and the private sector remains critical to accelerating solutions to infrastructure gaps and ensuring that public funds translate into safe, functional learning spaces for learners.