PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. officially opened School Year 2025–2026 on Monday (16 June 2025) at Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Malate, Manila, as the Department of Education (DepEd) highlighted the administration’s ongoing education reforms.

“Ang buong pamahalaan—lalo na pagdating sa edukasyon—lahat ng mga departamento, mula DOH, DSWD, DTI, DOTr, PNP, DICT, hanggang sa Office of the President, ay nakabantay sa inyong lahat para tiyakin na lahat ng mga pangangailangan, lalo na ng mga kabataan, ay maipaabot namin,” said Marcos.

Under the President’s directive, DepEd has launched key reforms focused on improving the welfare of both learners and educators.

These include streamlining the enrollment process, offering free health assessments for students, early distribution of laptops, smart TVs, and digital tools to schools, increasing medical and teaching allowances for educators, hiring new teachers and administrative staff, and improving workload distribution.

This school year will also see the pilot implementation of the enhanced senior high school curriculum aimed at better preparing students for higher education and employment.

“Malaking pasasalamat natin kay Pangulong Marcos sa mga repormang agad niyang itinulak para sa edukasyon. Mas mararamdaman ito ng ating mga guro at mag-aaral ngayong balik-eskwela,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

Marcos toured EDSES, one of the oldest public elementary schools in Manila, together with Secretary Angara, DepEd officials, and school personnel.