SENATOR Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize a nationwide program ensuring that every community — especially those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas — has access to qualified, well-supported, and community-rooted teachers.

Senate Bill No. 1317, or the proposed Teacher in Every Barrio Act, aims to address what the Second Congressional Commission on Education identified as one of the country’s most persistent education challenges: the shortage and uneven distribution of teachers, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.

According to the EDCOM II 2024 report, many Filipino learners suffer from overcrowded classrooms, low retention rates, and limited access to quality education due to insufficient teacher deployment and lack of support for educators assigned to far-flung schools.

Under the proposed law, the Teacher in Every Barrio Program will serve as a comprehensive, community-based solution that invests in local talent, provides robust teacher support, and strengthens incentives for those serving in underserved areas.

The program’s key components include scholarships for aspiring teachers from GIDAs and Indigenous Cultural Communities; graduate education support for in-service teachers; incentives and benefits; and recognition of alternative teaching pathways.

Aquino said the program aims not only to fill vacancies but also to build long-term educational capacity in local communities.