Lawmakers cited a recent measure that hurdled the House of Representatives as a decisive step toward finally bringing schools closer to children in the country’s most remote and conflict-affected areas.

The passage was viewed as crucial as the new school year once again exposes deep access gaps in basic education.

Approved on third reading by the House of Representatives on 13 October 2025, House Bill (HB) 04745, authored by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, establishes public schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and conflict-affected communities, addressing what education officials have long described as the country’s “last-mile” problem.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, one of the co-authors and chairperson of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said on Sunday that the bill directly addresses the conditions faced by learners in far-flung, disaster-prone, and post-conflict communities.

Adiong said, “Every school opening reminds us that distance, insecurity, and damaged access roads are still keeping children out of the classroom. This measure finally institutionalizes the solution — by bringing schools to the communities that need them most.”

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), more than 2.5 million learners live in areas officially classified as GIDAs.

In many upland, island, and post-conflict barangays, students walk two to four hours daily to reach the nearest school, which is one of the strongest indicators of absenteeism and dropout.

Save the Children Philippines reports that four in ten households in remote communities cite distance to school as the primary reason children fall behind or stop attending, with girls particularly vulnerable due to safety concerns during long commutes.

Recent storms and flooding that damaged classrooms and access roads in several regions have further aggravated the problem, delaying enrollment and causing irregular attendance just weeks into the school year.

The measure mandates that the Department of Education: identify priority GIDA and conflict-affected areas with inadequate school access; establish and staff public basic education schools in these communities; construct access roads and safe pathways leading to last-mile schools; and ensure sustained national funding for infrastructure, teachers, and maintenance.

The Mindanao solon said the measure reflects lessons learned from post-conflict and disaster rehabilitation efforts, where education access often lags behind housing and infrastructure.

“You cannot rebuild communities if children cannot get to school,” he said. “This law integrates education into long-term recovery and development planning.”