logo
Marcos vows to continue providing internet connection in far-flung schools

Marcos vows to continue providing internet connection in far-flung schools

GMA Network19-06-2025
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. vowed Thursday to continue the program ensuring internet connectivity among schools across the country, particularly those situated in far-flung and isolated areas.
Marcos said this during his virtual interaction with teachers and students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) and remote schools. This happened during his visit to Flora Ylagan High School in Quezon City, together with Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda.
''Kailangan connected lalong-lalo na mga school. At kaya't mabuti nagkakaroon ng... dumadami na 'yung mga school natin na connected na. Kaya't ipagpapatuloy natin 'yung programang 'yan,'' Marcos said.
(It's important that the schools are connected. The number of schools, which have internet connection, is increasing. We will continue that.)
The initiative is reinforced by DICT's ongoing programs such as JuanSIM ng Bayan, the Free Public Internet Access Program, and its broader Digitalization agenda. On the other hand, the Department of Education is investing in infrastructure and digital tools to complement the connectivity drive.
The following schools are among the first beneficiaries of the satellite-based internet under the joint efforts of the DICT and the DepEd:
Tangalagan National High School in Apayao (CAR)
Chanarian Elementary School in Batanes (Region II)
Tibagan Elementary School in Bulacan (Region III)
Caigdal National High School in Quezon (Region IV-A)
Duyay Elementary School in Marinduque (Region IV-B)
Lipata Integrated School in Bicol (Region V)
Salamanca National High School in Cebu (Region VII)
Nalil Elementary School in Tawi-Tawi (Region IX)
Dalingap Elementary School in Misamis Occidental (Region X)
Cabawa Elementary School in Surigao del Norte (Region XIII)
In their virtual interaction with the President, the teachers expressed gratitude to the administration over the assistance that they are getting from the government. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Palace to Roque: Why blame Marcos on being forced to leave PH?
Palace to Roque: Why blame Marcos on being forced to leave PH?

GMA Network

time5 hours ago

  • GMA Network

Palace to Roque: Why blame Marcos on being forced to leave PH?

Malacañang on Wednesday slammed former presidential spokesman Harry Roque for blaming the Marcos administration for his decision to leave the country amid the cases he is currently facing. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro took a swipe at Roque, saying that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. was not with the former Palace official when he got involved in supposed "illegal activities." ''Unang-una po, mukhang isinisisi pa po niya ang naging kalagayan niya at ang kinahinatnan niya kay Pangulo at sa administrasyon... Hindi naman po niya yata kasama ang Pangulo nang siya ay nakipag-deal sa Whirlwind at sa Lucky South 99,'' Castro said. (First of all, it seems like he still blames his situation and the outcome on the President and the administration... He apparently wasn't with the President when he made deals with Whirlwind and Lucky South 99.) GMA News Online has reached out to Roque but he has yet to reply as of posting time. In May, warrants of arrest were issued against Roque, Cassandra Ong and 48 others for qualified human trafficking in relation to the alleged scam hub run by Lucky South 99. Roque, however, claimed that he was being politically persecuted by the Marcos administration after the warrant was issued against him. "I am a victim of political persecution by the Marcos government because I am an ally of the Dutertes," Roque previously said. Castro, however, maintained that the warrant of arrest against Roque was valid. "Paano niyang isisisi ito sa Pangulo at sa administrasyon? So, sa mga ganitong klaseng obstructionist, sana po ay ihinto nila at maging tunay na Pilipino," Castro said. The former spokesperson has denied the accusations against him and said he is not and never has been a legal counsel of any illegal POGO and was not a counsel of Lucky South 99. Roque has said that he is currently at The Hague seeking asylum. The Department of Justice claimed that this has been rejected, but Roque said that this was just "fake news." —VAL/ GMA Integrated News

Palace clarifies: Marcos not against K-12 program
Palace clarifies: Marcos not against K-12 program

GMA Network

time6 hours ago

  • GMA Network

Palace clarifies: Marcos not against K-12 program

Malacañang on Wednesday clarified that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is not against the K-12 program. To recall, Marcos previously said that he is frustrated with the implementation of the Senior High School Curriculum, noting that the system has " "no advantage." ''Gusto po nating liwanagin ito. Hindi po niya sinasabi na tutol siya sa K-12. Ang sinabi lang po niya ay hindi naging epektibo agad dahil hindi nai-prepare ang mga ahensiya para dito,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing. (We want to clarify this. He's not saying he's against K-12. He's just saying it wasn't effective right away because the agencies weren't prepared for it.) Castro said that under Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the system is being improved. ''At ngayon po sa pamamagitan din po ni Secretary Angara, ini-improve po ito pero ayon po sa ating Pangulo, hangga't nandiyan po ang batas para sa K-12 ito po ay susuportahan at palalawigin at pag-iibayuhin nang maayos para sa ating mga estudyante,'' she said. (And now, through Secretary Angara, it is being improved, but according to our President, as long as the law for K-12 exists, it will be supported, expanded, and improved properly for our students.) In August 2024, Marcos directed the rationalization of the SHS curriculum as he wanted to ensure that SHS graduates could acquire high-quality jobs. Angara had acknowledged the lapses in the implementation of the SHS was one of the authors of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which institutionalized the government's K to 12 program. The law restructured the basic education in the country by requiring Filipino students to undergo one year in kindergarten, six years in primary school, four years in junior high school, and two years in senior high school. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

House bills on absolute divorce refiled in 20th Congress
House bills on absolute divorce refiled in 20th Congress

GMA Network

time7 hours ago

  • GMA Network

House bills on absolute divorce refiled in 20th Congress

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City is seen on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 before the complex is locked down ahead of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, 2024. Tina Panganiban-Perez/GMA Integrated News Proposed legislation on absolute divorce has been refiled in the House of Representatives under the 20th Congress. House Bill 108 filed by 4Ps Partylist Representative JC Abalos and House Bill 210 filed by ACT Teachers Partylist Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Partylist Representative Renee Louise Co aim to reintroduce absolute divorce in the Philippines. "In the context of divorce, a marriage is recognized as valid but is terminated. The termination occurs not due to any defect or omission at the time of the marriage ceremony, but rather as a result of circumstances that arise during the marriage itself—which is a reality that most individuals often fail to acknowledge," Abalos wrote in his explanatory note. ACT Teachers and Kabataan Partylists also refiled the Absolute Divorce Bill this 20th Congress. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking — Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) July 1, 2025 Abalos cited a study that showed that approximately 17.5% of Filipino women between 15 and 49 years old have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from their partners. "The bill aims to provide spouses in irreparably broken marriages a legal avenue for dissolution, thereby safeguarding children from marital strife and empowering vulnerable spouses, particularly in abusive relationships, to rebuild their lives," Abalos said. In their explanatory note, Tinio and Co wrote that "Philippine society generally frowns upon and discourages marital break-ups and provides cultural and legal safeguards to preserve marital relations." "For many women, the inequalities and violence in marriage negate its ideals as the embodiment of love, care, and safety, and erode the bases upon which a marriage is founded," they added. READ: What's the difference between annulment, legal separation, and divorce? The bills provide common grounds for granting absolute divorce, such as physical violence, drug addiction, homosexuality, and grounds for annulment of marriage under Article 45 of the Family Code. "Hindi naman nating pinipilit or ine-encourage na maghiwalay ang married couples dahil napaka-importante at napaka-invaluable and grabe ang sanctity of marriage," Abalos told reporters in an interview. (We are not insisting or encouraging the breakup of married couples because the sanctity of marriage is important and invaluable.) "What we're just saying here is that we must acknowledge the struggle of our countrymen na nasa-stuck sa mga ganitong toxic relationships," he added. (What we're saying here is that we must acknowledge the struggle of our countrymen who are stuck in toxic relationships.) READ | Divorce in PH: 'Humanitarian imperative'? Abalos' version of the proposal requires a 60-day cooling off period for the Family Court to "exercise all efforts to reunite and reconcile the concerned spouses," while Tinio and Co's version requires a six-month cooling off period. The absolute divorce bill was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store