Marcos inks law to bridge education gaps in 9,000 ‘last mile’ schools nationwide

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12321, also known as the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Schools Act, to institutionalize inter-agency support for remote public basic education schools nationwide.

Set to take effect on Aug. 12, the law establishes a dedicated Department of Education (DepEd) program to address long-standing shortages in infrastructure, learning resources, and teaching staff.

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) shows that approximately 9,000 last mile schools serve 2.5 million learners nationwide, with about half located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

DepEd will serve as the primary implementing agency tasked with finalizing evidence-based implementing rules and technical guidelines before the measure takes effect next month.

“We can no longer leave behind our teachers and learners in the farthest corners of the country,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

“We are putting in place concrete solutions to a long-standing problem: ensuring that learners have decent classrooms, enough well-supported and protected teachers, and schools that are more accessible to students,” he added.

Educational institutions qualify for targeted support if they serve communities affected by armed conflict or disasters, or if Indigenous Peoples (IP) make up  over 75 percent of their student population.

For schools established within ancestral domains, the curriculum must integrate Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) while complying with the Indigenous Peoples’  Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) and Free, Prior and Informed Consent requirements.

The legislation mandates a national accessibility standard directing that basic education facilities be established within a three-kilometer walkable distance from learners’ homes whenever feasible.

To resolve geographical barriers, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will build access roads, while local government units will provide transport services or alternative learning options in hazardous terrain.

Within one year of the law’s effectiveness, the DepEd must publish and revise its existing mapping system to create a National Last Mile and GIDA Schools Map that will be updated every three years for resource allocation.

Covered public schools will receive tailored interventions, including specialized learning equipment, school feeding initiatives, water and sanitation facilities, electrification, and digital tools.

In coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the law grants teachers in isolated zones a support package consisting of hardship allowances, housing support, specialized training, return-to-service scholarship opportunities, and career progression pathways.

The measure also promotes localized recruitment by prioritizing residents and linguistically aligned candidates, while formally recognizing indigenous knowledge educators and culture-bearers.

Initial funding for the program’s implementation will be sourced directly from the existing annual budgets of the involved government agencies.