The Department of Education (DepEd) emphasized on Thursday its commitment to prioritizing and enhancing access to education for schools in far-flung or remote communities.

“Last mile doesn’t have to be the last priority,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara during his recent school visits in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Angara, along with other DepEd officials, visited four Benguet schools as part of the Last Mile School Program: Jose Gonzales Elementary School, Yabyabuan Multigrade School, Kiwas Integrated School and Andolor Elementary School.

“President Marcos prioritizes support for last mile schools, whether they are in the mountains or islands. Our school visits in the Cordillera show us that the right interventions can lead to positive outcomes, even in the most remote parts of our archipelago,” Angara stated.

For the first time, an Education secretary visited Yabyabuan Multigrade School in Bagong, Sablan, an isolated school now powered by solar energy, and Andolor Elementary School in Tabaan Sur, Tuba, where teachers and students have long endured limited resources.

During the visits, Angara engaged with teachers and students, listening to their challenges and reaffirming DepEd’s commitment to improving conditions in geographically isolated schools. At Andolor Elementary School, he led the turnover of a newly constructed school building to provide better learning spaces for students.

He also inaugurated a new facility at the Benguet Special Education Center — Inclusive Learning Resource Center, a significant step toward strengthening inclusive education in the region.

Angara shared that his monthly regional visits provide invaluable insights from teachers, parents and students.