DepEd cites gov’t push for education amid disasters

Education remains a central priority of the Marcos administration as proven by its push to strengthen both learning continuity and youth development amid natural calamities hitting the country, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Wednesday.

During a briefing at Cararayan-Naga Elementary School in Tiwi, Albay, Angara cited the government’s efforts to fast-track relief delivery, assess damaged school facilities, and provide psychosocial support to displaced families.

Efforts are underway to assist children who have experienced trauma from the recent typhoons, he said.

“Mandato natin sa DepEd na tiyakin na ligtas ang ating mga mag-aaral, at nabibigay ang kanilang mga kinakailangan, lalo sa panahon ng sakuna,” he said.

(It is our mandate in DepEd to ensure that our learners are safe and provided with what they need, especially during disaster.) 

DepEd has also deployed learning kits to evacuation centers to maintain learning continuity while communities recover.

“The President’s emphasis on the welfare of children and the continuity of education reinforces our work on the ground,” Angara added, citing the President’s recent visit to typhoon-stricken communities in the province of Albay.

On Wednesday, Angara joined President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and sports officials for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly upgraded PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

The newly-refurbished facility now features improved dormitories, a redesigned Philippine Sports Museum, rehabilitated aquatic facilities, and modernized offices of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

DepEd said the upgrades aim to support elite athletes while expanding access to youth sports programs nationwide.

Angara said the revitalized sports complex is crucial to DepEd’s efforts to integrate athletics into holistic education.

“Sa loob ng maraming dekada, ang iba’t ibang sports complex sa bansa ang nagsilbing tunay na tahanan ng ating mga pambatong atleta,” he said. 

(For decades, sports complexes across the country have served as the true home of our top athletes.) 

"With the country hosting the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup starting Friday, DepEd gives its full support to PSC and the Marcos administration in strengthening sports programs to uplift the Filipino spirit of discipline and excellence,” he said.

The DepEd chief said the President’s engagements in Albay and Pasig reflect how disaster response, youth development, and infrastructure improvements intersect with the administration’s “education-centered vision.”

“Whether in evacuation centers or national training grounds, the direction is clear—education, child welfare, and youth development remain at the core of government action,” Angara said.—MCG, GMA Integrated News