THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure seeking to decentralize the governance structure of the Department of Education (DepEd) and strengthen local education administration to improve service delivery and policy implementation nationwide.

House Bill No. 9358 proposes amendments to Republic Act No. 9155, or the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, by enhancing the administrative and governance capacities of DepEd at the regional, division, and district levels.

According to House Committee on Basic Education and Culture Chairperson and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, the proposed reforms aim to improve the implementation of education policies and deliver better outcomes for Filipino learners.

“By strengthening the institutional capacity of DepEd at all levels, we improve policy implementation, administrative efficiency, accountability, and ultimately, the quality of education delivered to every Filipino learner,” Romulo said.

In sponsoring the measure, Romulo emphasized that the bill addresses governance challenges arising from the rapid expansion of the country’s basic education system over the past decade.

He noted that the implementation of the K to 12 program and the establishment of senior high schools significantly increased the number of schools, learners, teachers, and administrative responsibilities nationwide, exposing limitations in the department’s existing governance framework.

“Over the past decade, our basic education system has undergone unprecedented expansion,” Romulo said.

The lawmaker explained that the measure seeks to bring decision-making processes and support services closer to schools and local communities.

“At its core, this measure is about bringing educational governance closer to our schools, our teachers, and our learners,” he said.

“It recognizes that effective education reform requires not only sound policies from the Central Office, but also capable and empowered regional and local governance structures that can respond to realities on the ground.”

Romulo pointed out that many DepEd regional offices and schools division offices are currently managing increasingly complex responsibilities across vast geographic areas and rapidly growing student populations.

In many provinces and cities, a single schools division office supervises hundreds of schools, including those located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities, creating challenges in supervision, service delivery, and policy implementation.

To address these concerns, the bill empowers regional offices to adapt national education policies to local conditions and educational needs while providing stronger technical assistance and guidance to schools division offices.

The measure also authorizes the creation of more than one schools division office within a province, city, municipality, or cluster of local government units, subject to the approval of the Education Secretary.

Supporters of the bill said the proposed reforms would enable DepEd offices to respond more effectively to local challenges, strengthen accountability, and improve the delivery of quality basic education services across the country.