Latest news with #DepEd
GMA Network
4 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sara Duterte bound for Australia, to join rally for dad Rodrigo
Vice President Sara Duterte addresses the media in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands on March 14, 2025. Photo by: Jay-Vee Marasigan Pangan Vice President Sara Duterte will travel to Australia for another personal trip and to join a protest action calling for the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. According to an advisory Friday from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), her itinerary includes attendance in the "Free Duterte Now" rally on Sunday, June 22, in Melbourne. The elder Duterte is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands over charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs. Last week, the Vice President traveled to Kuala Lumpur for a personal trip with her family. While in Malaysia, she attended a Philippine Independence Day celebration and engaged in a program consultation with overseas Filipino workers. The Vice President is facing an impeachment case for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. She was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. After the Senate voted to return her case to the House of Representatives, her impeachment trial is currently expected to begin in the 20th Congress, which will open in July. The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday directed Sara Duterte and nine others from the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) to respond to the charges filed by the House of Representatives in connection with the alleged misuse of confidential funds. The order came after the House filed a complaint against Duterte and several others for plunder, technical malversation, falsification, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption of public officers, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution, a source said. The complaint stemmed from the recommendation of the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability to file charges against Duterte for the alleged misuse of P500 million in confidential funds of the OVP and P112.5 million in confidential funds of DepEd from 2022 to 2024. The Vice President has denied the allegations against her. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Business
- GMA Network
PH-Japan educational ties strengthen 'Golden Age' relations — envoy
Japan underscored the significance of educational cooperation in strengthening the "Golden Age" of bilateral relations with the Philippines. In a press release issued on Thursday, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said a deeper educational partnership between Manila and Tokyo advances and strengthens their "Golden Age" of bilateral relations. Kazuya also stressed that such collaboration could establish long-term trust and people-to-people connections, which will later support the nation's lasting diplomatic ties. Japan is currently engaged in a number of educational partnerships with the Philippines including trainings, scholarship grants, and student exchanges. Last year, the Department of Education (DepEd) partnered with a Japanese company in a bid to improve the math proficiency of public school learners. The DepEd signed a memorandum of agreement with Japan-based firm Sprix, Inc. to provide public school students free access to the Test of Fundamental Skills (TOFAS). According to DepEd, TOFAS allows teachers to assess students' calculation and problem-solving skills "accurately, providing valuable data to tailor instruction according to each student's needs." To recall, Kazuya welcomed distinguished Japan Studies professors from the University of the Philippines (UP) in April, and De La Salle University (DLSU) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) in May to his residence in Makati City. Among those who visited him include UP Asian Center Professor Dr. Matthew M. Santamaria, Associate Professor Dr. Jocelyn Celero, Assistant Professor Dr. Karl Ian U. Cheng Chua, retired professor and former Center for International Studies (CIS) director Dr. Cynthia Neri Zayas, and UP CIS Professor Dr. Amparo Adelina Umali III. In a separate meeting, Kazuya also met with DLSU's Department of International Studies Professor Dr. Dennis Trinidad, Associate Professor Dr. Ron Bridget Vilog and ADMU's Japanese Studies Program, Assistant Professors Dr. Kristine Michelle L. Santos and Dr. Hiroko Nagai-Yabut. Also on Thursday, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. flew to Osaka, Japan for a working visit. Last April, Japan said the opening of its new visa processing center in Manila shows the deeper people-to-people relations between the Philippines and Japan. The event was hailed as an "indicator and proof" of the "Golden Age" of the two countries' relations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
'Free WiFi for All' program to boost internet access for last mile schools
Teachers and students in geographically isolated and underserved public schools are expected to benefit from improved internet connectivity under the government's ongoing "Free WiFi for All" initiative. The Digital Bayanihan Project is a joint effort by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The project aims to expand internet access across schools in remote areas as part of the government's digital inclusion efforts for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) communities. Among the Last Mile Schools that now have internet access are: Radagan Elementary School, Ilocos Norte (Region I) Chanarian Elementary School, Batanes (Region II) Tibagan Elementary School, Bulacan (Region III) Caigdal National High School, Quezon (Region IV-A) Ulanguan Elementary School, Marinduque (Region IV-B) Lipata Integrated School, Camarines Sur (Region V) Bay-ang National High School, Iloilo (Region VI) Salamanca National High School, Cebu (Region VII) Tigbawan Integrated School, Leyte (Region VIII) Pag-asa Elementary School, Tawi-Tawi (Region IX) Dalingap Elementary School, Misamis Occidental (Region X) Malungon Elementary School, North Cotabato (Region XII) Cabawa Elementary School, Surigao del Norte (Region XIII) Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School, Agusan del Norte (Region XIII) Tangalan National High School, Apayao (CAR) Previously having limited or no internet connection, these schools are now included in a growing network of connected schools through infrastructure support under the government's Bagong Pilipinas campaign. 'Marami talagang magagawa kapag may internet na. Pararamihin pa namin ito, especially sa GIDA areas—yung mga isolated at underserved,' said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (There's so much more that can be done when there's internet. We will expand this further, especially in GIDA areas—those that are geographically isolated and disadvantaged.) Education Secretary Sonny Angara took part in the same virtual event while visiting Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Agusan del Norte. The school, previously without electricity, now runs on solar power provided by the National Electrification Administration (NEA). It also received digital learning tools such as Starlink internet, tablets, smart TVs, electric fans and school supplies from the National Electrification Administration and FDC Misamis Power Corporation. 'This is digital bayanihan in action. Kapag kinokonekta natin ang mga paaralan, kinokonekta rin natin ang mga estudyante sa mas magandang kinabukasan,' said Angara. (This is digital bayanihan in action. When we connect schools, we also connect students to a better future.) DICT Secretary Henry Aguda reiterated the department's goal: to connect all public schools to the internet before the end of 2025. Through the Free Public Internet Access Program, Bayanihan SIM, and continuous infrastructure deployment, coupled with DepEd's digitalization efforts, the initiative seeks to close the digital divide and support learning across all regions. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
'CLASS+' program to deliver free health services in schools
The Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have joined forces to bring essential healthcare services directly to public schools through a new initiative called CLASS+ (Clinics for Learners' Access to School-health Services Plus). Launched on Wednesday, June 18, the program aims to provide students and teachers access to free medical consultations, laboratory tests, and preventive care under PhilHealth's Konsulta Package. During the kickoff, 500 students and teachers in Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City received free checkups, with PhilHealth also offering on-site registration for those not yet enrolled in the national health insurance program. The CLASS+ framework enables school clinics to act as gateways to essential health services covered by the Konsulta Package, including: General health consultations and preventive care Access to diagnostic services and basic laboratory tests Free essential medicines Health counseling and medical referrals to partner hospitals or Konsulta providers Following the MOU signing, DepEd is set to facilitate the registration of students and staff with PhilHealth, a requirement for availing of the Konsulta benefits. DepEd will also develop a School Health Package, which will be informed by health data collected from school service use, referral patterns, and learners' health-seeking behaviors. PhilHealth, for its part, is preparing to accredit additional Konsulta providers from the private sector, including technology-driven companies like 1Life Philippines. Their flagship AI-powered platform, DocMate AI, serves as a digital assistant to doctors, helping speed up consultations and improving diagnostic accuracy—especially useful in remote or under-resourced school clinics. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DepEd, DOH aligns curriculum to address HIV spike among Filipino youth
With enrollees reaching 7,222 students at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, the first day of School Year 2025-2026, Tenement Elementary School in Taguig City had to use temporary partitions to divide classrooms for pupils. SHERYLIN UNTALAN/GMA Integrated News The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) have collaborated to prepare an aligned curriculum for Filipino learners with the goal of addressing the rise in HIV cases and other critical issues affecting the youth. "Nag-align kami ng curriculum dahil ang findings namin, mas bata ang tinatamaan ng HIV (We aligned the curriculum because our findings show HIV infections among younger Filipinos)," said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa during a joint field assessment with Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday. Filipinos aged 15 to 24 now account for 30% of the 57 new daily infections in the country, DOH data from January to March 2025 showed. At the basic education level, this age group overlaps with junior high school learners in Grade 10 and senior high school students from Grades 11 to 12. The cooperation of the two agencies is in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen inter-agency efforts for student health, particularly as classes reopen for School Year 2025–2026. Read: Cover Story | Overcoming HIV: Hope Rises Between Two Red Lines "Pinapriority talaga ni Pangulo ang edukasyon... instruction niya na magsama-sama ang mga ahensya para yung pagbukas ng klase, kalusugan ng ating mga anak at pati na rin ng ating mga guro ay inaalagaan po ng gobyerno," Angara said. (The President prioritizes education... his instruction is that agencies work together for the opening of classes.) Nutrition, pregnancy, road safety Aside from HIV education, the curriculum now also integrates discussions key health issues on mental health, unplanned pregnancy, road safety, and nutrition. Herbosa noted that these health concerns may also be contributing to the broader learning crisis observed in the country. "Some of it is the cause of learning crisis," he said, adding that, "Some of it is stunting because of undernutrition… Pumapasok, walang pagkain (They come to school without food)." In response, the DepEd has expanded its school feeding program to provide meals not just for undernourished students, but to all young learners at the entry level. The DepEd and DOH are also monitoring and responding to potential health outbreaks in schools, especially with the onset of the rainy season. "[Kung] May clustering of cases sa isang school, pinupuntahan ng aming regional office kaagad 'yan (Our regional offices immediately go to areas where there are clustering of health cases)," Herbosa added. As cases of HIV and other diseases continue to climb, both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to protecting students not just academically, but physically and emotionally as well. "Tutukan talaga 'yung kalusugan ng mga bata (Focus will be on children's health)," Angara said. Earlier this moth, the DOH reported that the number of young Filipinos infected with human immunodeficiency virus has increased by 500% prompting the agency to request for the declaration of a national public health emergency for HIV. Herbosa had expressed concern that if the trend is not be stopped, the number of people in the Philippines living with HIV could reach 400,000. Based on available figures as of June 2025, there are 148,831 cases of HIV in the Philippines. The DOH earlier said that in the first three months of the 2025, a total of 5,101 HIV cases were confirmed. This was higher than the 3,409 confirmed cases the same period in 2024. — VDV, GMA Integrated News HIV, AIDS, HIV infections, DOH, DepEd, school opening
