CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH
An Act Institutionalizing Support for Public Basic Education Schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and Appropriating Funds Therefor
“GIDA Schools Act”
Senate Bill No. 1937 under Committee Report No. 43
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
March 9, 2026
Mr. President, this Representation would like to add my humble voice to rally for the promotion of inclusive, accessible and quality education for our children. With the permission of our good Chairperson, Senator Bam Aquino, I would like to manifest my intention to be a co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1937 under Committee Report No. 43 or the “GIDA Schools Act” reported out by the Committee on Basic Education.
Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas or GIDA are “areas or communities situated in remote or marginalized locations, with limited access to essential services and infrastructure, and may include areas impacted by conflict or insecurity.” Dahil sa kanilang lokasyon at sitwasyon, ang mga mag-aaral sa GIDA ay humaharap sa mga pagsubok na higit pa sa mga nararanasan ng mga mag-aaral sa ibang bahagi ng ating bansa. Bukod sa kakulangan ng mga silid-aralan, aklat, at guro na karaniwang suliranin sa mga lungsod, ang mga mag-aaral sa GIDA ay higit pang nangangailangan sapagkat wala silang suplay ng kuryente at tubig, at sadyang malayo ang kanilang paaralan sa kanilang tahanan. Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na mayroon tayong mga mag-aaral at guro na literal na umaakyat ng bundok at tumatawid ng ilog para lamang makapasok sa paaralan.
These physical and structural situations in GIDA pose extra challenges to the learners and teachers. Their environment is certainly not conducive to learning, and worse, often poses threat to their safety. Sadly, this consumes their physical energy even before they can engage in intellectual activities, thus limiting their potential to learn and fully enjoy the learning experience.
According to the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030, “There are 10,875 GIDA barangays nationwide, representing 25.87% of all barangays. There are 1,044 remote and 86 extremely remote schools nationwide.
In 2019, the Department of Education issued DepEd Memorandum No. 59 series of 2019 to launch the 2-year Last Mile Schools Program “to address the gaps in resources and facilities of schools that are located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged and areas (GIDA)”. Other government agencies are also on board in this endeavor. The Land Bank of the Philippines, the LBP Leasing and Finance Corporation and the LBP Resources and Development Corp. contributed for the repair and construction of schools. Last year, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) formalized a partnership with the DepEd to provide reliable and sufficient electricity to schools in off-grid and underserved areas. Also, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) initiated internet-connectivity programs in GIDA schools.
As the government’s partner in development, the private sector also lends assistance to the Last Mile Schools Program. Among others, Aboitiz Foundation and Globe contributed for solar energy panels and internet connectivity to GIDA schools.
Despite these efforts, there are still inadequacies in the construction of the schools in GIDA. Hence, the “GIDA Schools Act” is necessary because it will provide legal framework to realize our aspirations for our learners and teachers who tend to be neglected and marginalized because of the difficulties in their situations. Through the proposed systematic and coordinated plans and actions for schools in GIDA, we will be able to ensure and sustain the achievements of our goals and targets.
Hopefully, through the enactment of this measure, we will no longer see students and teachers who struggle to go to school because of their distance or inaccessibility. We look forward to seeing the day when schools, however far they are, are equipped with the infrastructure and facilities that will make them competent and fulfilled like their counterparts in the cities.
As declared by our former colleague, an education champion himself, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, “Last mile doesn’t have to be the last priority”. Our swift action to pass this piece of legislation will make a big difference for our young learners.
Thank you, Mr. President.