Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed the enactment of the Last Mile Schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Act into law, calling it a significant step toward ensuring that every Filipino child has access to quality education regardless of where they live.
The senator said Republic Act No. 12321, or the “Last Mile and GIDA Schools Act,” signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last July 22, recognizes that education is a fundamental right and that the government must invest in communities that have long been underserved.
“Ang access sa edukasyon ay hindi dapat nakadepende sa kung saan ka nakatira. Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang layo ng mga school para magkaroon ng pagkakataon ang bawat Pilipino na makapag-aral. The passage of this law is a major step to ensure that no Filipino child is left behind,” he stated.
The law institutionalizes sustained government support, comprehensive benefits for teachers and non-teaching personnel, and infrastructure development.
It requires schools to be within a three-kilometer walkable distance or to be provided with safe transport access and mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to develop, publish, and regularly update a National Last Mile and GIDA Schools Map “to ensure responsiveness to changing conditions and educational needs.”
The law also directs the collaborative efforts of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to build climate- and disaster-resilient facilities—classrooms, electricity, internet connectivity, water and sanitation facilities, transportation access, and learning resources—using sustainable local materials.
Furthermore, RA 12321 grants specialized allowances, housing assistance, and local recruitment incentives for teachers.
“Kapag nabigyan natin ng patas na pagkakataon ang bawat batang Pilipino na makapag-aral, mas napapalakas natin ang ating mga komunidad at mas napaghahandaan natin ang kinabukasan ng bansa. There is no true progress if our young learners are being left behind simply because of where they live,” Pangilinan said.
The senator, who co-authored and co-sponsored the law, pushed for the institutionalization of last-mile schools in the public basic education system by mandating the DepEd to adopt policies responsive to the schools’ unique operational realities.