A partylist group urged the government to increase support for students in flexible learning programs, citing persistent challenges to quality education.

Atty. JP Padiernos, first nominee of the 132 GP Partylist, acknowledged the Department of Education's (DepEd) distribution of 87 million modules and 74,000 tablets but stressed that more must be done.

"This is a good step, but our campaign to provide quality education to the youth needs to reach further," Padiernos said in a statement.

He cited a 2022 World Bank report indicating nine out of 10 Filipino children cannot read or understand simple text by age 10, highlighting a "severe" education crisis.

Padiernos called for increased government investment in education, stressing the 1987 Philippine Constitution's mandate for education to receive the highest priority in the national budget.

The 132 GP Partylist also raised concerns about infrastructure. Citing the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), the group said the country faces a shortage of 165,443 classrooms, resulting in over 5.1 million students becoming "aisle learners" in overcrowded spaces.

The Basic Education Facilities Fund, which peaked at 118 billion pesos in 2017, has been reduced to P28 billion by 2025 due to underutilization, according to the group.

Padiernos added sustained government action and long-term planning are needed to address these gaps. He pledged the 132 GP Partylist's commitment to advocating for educational reforms.