NAVOTAS City Rep. Tobias ‘Toby’ Tiangco is seeking to strengthen digital education in the country through a proposed measure aimed at improving internet access and equipping teachers with essential technology skills.

In House Bill 7577, or the proposed Digital Education Access and Teacher Capacity-Building Act, Tiangco noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in digital access and teacher preparedness within the Philippine education system.

He pointed out that millions of learners struggled to fully participate in distance and blended learning due to unreliable internet connectivity, limited access to digital devices, and inadequate community-based learning facilities.

The bill seeks to institutionalize government support for digital education by expanding access to internet services and providing digital learning devices to public school students, particularly those from low-income families and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

It also aims to enhance teacher capacity through continuous and accredited digital skills training, ensuring educators are well-equipped to effectively deliver online and blended learning.

In addition, the measure mandates the establishment of national digital education standards, promotes public-private partnerships to maximize resources, and ensures transparency and accountability through regular reporting and congressional oversight.

Tiangco said the proposal is designed to make the Philippine education system more resilient, inclusive, and responsive to the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.