AS the new school year once again exposes deep access gaps in basic education, a House-approved measure authored by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is being cited by lawmakers as a decisive step toward finally bringing schools closer to children in the country’s most remote and conflict-affected areas.
House Bill (HB) No. 04745, approved on third reading by the House of Representatives on 13 October 2025, establishes public basic education schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and conflict-affected communities—addressing what education officials have long described as the country’s “last-mile” problem.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, one of the co-authors and Chairperson of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said Sunday the bill responds directly to conditions faced by learners in far-flung, disaster-prone, and post-conflict communities.
“Every school opening reminds us that distance, insecurity, and damaged access roads are still keeping children out of the classroom,” Adiong said. “This measure finally institutionalizes the solution—by bringing schools to the communities that need them most.”
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), more than 2.5 million learners live in areas officially classified as GIDAs.
In many upland, island, and post-conflict barangays, students walk two to four hours daily to reach the nearest school—one of the strongest predictors of absenteeism and dropout.
Save the Children Philippines reports that four in ten households in remote communities cite distance to school as the primary reason children fall behind or stop attending, with girls particularly vulnerable due to safety concerns during long commutes.
Recent storms and flooding that damaged classrooms and access roads in several regions have further aggravated the problem, forcing delayed enrollment and irregular attendance just weeks into the school year.
HB No. 04745—principally authored by Romualdez—moves beyond pilot programs by mandating the DeEd to:
. Identify priority GIDA and conflict-affected areas with inadequate school access;
• Establish and staff public basic education schools in these communities;
• Construct access roads and safe pathways leading to last-mile schools;
• Ensure sustained national funding for infrastructure, teachers, and maintenance.
Adiong said the measure reflects lessons learned from post-conflict and disaster rehabilitation efforts, where education access often lags behind housing and infrastructure.
“You cannot rebuild communities if children cannot get to school,” he said. “This law integrates education into long-term recovery and development planning.”
With House approval secured, lawmakers are calling on the Senate to act swiftly to ensure implementation before more learners fall behind.
“The House has done its part,” Adiong said. “The challenge now is to turn this policy into classrooms, teachers, and safe access on the ground—especially for communities that have waited the longest.”
HB No. 04745 now awaits Senate consideration.
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