DepEd hails PBBM for prioritizing classroom building, anti-child abuse bills

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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.

PBBM leads signing of DepEd–LGU historic MOA to fast-track classroom construction

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MALACAÑANG, MANILA, 11 February 2026 — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) on Wednesday received the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units, backed by representatives from more than 90 percent of provinces nationwide, aimed at accelerating classroom construction and addressing the country’s persistent shortage of learning spaces.



“By giving LGUs greater role in the implementation, we streamline the process, we reduce delays, and we move faster in building schools that our children need,” President Marcos said.



Education Secretary Sonny Angara and provincial leaders inked the historic agreement at Malacañang, formalizing a nationwide framework that clearly delineates the roles of DepEd and LGUs in delivering school infrastructure and marking a decisive shift toward coordinated action in addressing the classroom backlog.






“These signatures mark the end of working in silos. They mark the beginning of shared responsibility,” Angara said. “Ang kasunduang ito ang malinaw naming pangako na wala nang classroom na maaantala dahil sa pag-aalinlangan, at wala nang edukasyong mapuputol dahil sa kakulangan ng ugnayan.”




The governors who signed the agreement represented key local government leagues, including the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), led by Quirino Province Gov. Dax Cua, and the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), headed by South Cotabato Gov. Jun Tamayo.



Under the MOA, LGUs are tasked to lead the construction, replacement, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms within their jurisdictions, including the conduct of procurement, supervision of contractors, and day-to-day project implementation, in accordance with national procurement and building regulations

.

DepEd, for its part, will identify priority schools, provide standard classroom designs and technical specifications, and exercise oversight by reviewing plans, validating completed works, and ensuring that projects meet national safety, accessibility, and quality standards.



The agreement also sets out shared responsibilities in funding and long-term maintenance, with strict monitoring, reporting, and transparency requirements to ensure the timely completion of projects and proper use of public funds.




Angara stressed that the partnership complements existing national school building programs and allows faster delivery by aligning national standards with local implementation capacity.



Provincial leaders who signed the MOA welcomed the clearer division of roles, saying it would reduce delays caused by coordination gaps and overlapping mandates.





The agreement mandates regular submission of financial and physical accomplishment reports, key performance indicators, and public disclosure measures to strengthen accountability throughout project implementation.




Angara said the DepEd–LGU partnership reflects a shared commitment to provide accessible, conducive, and quality learning environments for Filipino learners nationwide, in line with the President’s directive to make education a top governance priority.

MarkADo! Caps Off a Winning Move for 22nd PUP AdCongress

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES—From expert insights to interactive segments, this full-house seminar proved ad recall is a game you can master.

“MarkADo! Winning Ads on the Board” successfully made its mark on January 27, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at PUP Bulwagang Balagtas. The event gathered students and industry professionals for an interactive discussion on what makes advertising campaigns truly remarkable.

The seminar welcomed over 500 attendees composed of the Advertising and Public Relations (ADPR) community, aspiring marketing professionals, partner universities, and PUP alumni.

Kicking off the speaker lineup was Margie Husmalaga, Senior Media Director and Partner at GIGIL, who discussed how brands can stand out in a cluttered media landscape. She cited notable GIGIL campaigns such as RC Cola’s Gen Z-targeted ads and Skyro’s literally flexible billboard. She wrapped up her talk with a reminder that resonated with the audience: “Be brave, be bold—but most of all, be true”.

Taking the stage next was Jeriko Buenafe, a jingle composer best known for his work on Ritemed and the Da Pers Family theme song. His talk focused on audio recall and how strong planning and execution shape effective jingles. He emphasized that simplicity is key, noting that melodies have staying power to remain remarkable even years after their release.

Following this was Roman Carlo Olivarez of TREYNA Group who tackled visual recall. He highlighted how the brain processes visual information within milliseconds, and introduced the importance of distinctive brand assets in building strong brand identity. According to Olivarez, visuals do more than catch attention—they evoke emotion, tell stories, build brand identity, and provide solutions.

After the speaker sessions, the program shifted to the informative game show segment “Markado o Singko!” which tested the audience’s memory on popular advertisements. Cheers erupted in the venue when social media personality Inah Evans, known for her appearance in “Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast” and popularly dubbed “Mother Beep Card”, joined the segment as one of the panelists alongside Buenafe and Olivarez.

Following the game show, the PUPian drag queen Edsa Xxtra took the stage and re-energized the crowd with her usual intense performances. She further engaged the attendees by leading the audience in a Nestlé wellness dance that brought movement, laughter, and nostalgia to the venue.

The seminar concluded with Gio Puyat, Advertising Director and podcast host of Kwentong Creatives, who discussed how brands can sustain recall over time. He highlighted the diversity of roles within the advertising industry, encouraging students to explore where they truly fit. Puyat urged everyone to make something they want to see in the world, and to follow their passion as doing so will lead them in the right place.

As the program wrapped, MarkADo! left with a clear message: the most remarkable campaigns are built through strategic choices from planning to execution, much like the seminar’s chess theme. With expert-led discussions and interactive segments, MarkADo! equipped its attendees with practical strategies that they can apply to their next ideas and campaigns.

The seminar’s winning run was strengthened by its Lead Media Partners: Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin, and WazzupPilipinas.com . Together with Official Media Partners: When In Manila, IKOTPH, Edge TV Philippines, Now You Know PH, and TV Maria.

MarkADo was also made possible through its sponsors: Fitbar (Official Health Boost Partner), PUPian Lifestyle (Official Merch Partner), 901 Studios (Official Production House Partner), and Official Snack Partners Fudgee Barr, Doowee Donut Delectables, and Brownie Break. The event was held in collaboration with FlexOffice Philippines and Ohana Philippines, with event sponsors Careline, Floofs, Goya, Tri-Vision Ventures, Inc., and Dunkin’.

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