MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has begun delivering laptops and other learning materials to around 46,000 public schools across the country to improve students’ access to technology, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Wednesday.

“Habang nag didiskasyon po tayo dito, ginagawa na po natin. Nagdi-deliver na po tayo sa 46,000 public schools nationwide,” Angara said during the 2025 Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussion held at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center.

Angara said the move is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for the DepEd to resolve immediate issues affecting teachers and learners.

He cited the case of students struggling with digital-based exams due to limited computer literacy.

“Isa sa mga rason kung bakit lagpak ho tayo sa international assessment exams, unang beses makahawak ng examinee o ng estudyante yung mouse ng computer. Kaya isang oras hindi nya masagot iyong mga questions,” he said.

Angara noted that all students who took the most recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams were provided with laptops to address this gap.

“Alam naman natin, we are living in the age of artificial intelligence. Kailangan po natin ng makabagong gadgets at magandang datos. Otherwise, hindi natin ma-realize itong benefits of technology,” he added.

Aside from laptops, the DepEd is also distributing some two million learning items—including books and classroom furniture—that had been left undelivered under the previous administration.

“Sa nakaraang mga nakaupo kasi, hiniwalay nila iyong pagbili at iyong pagdeliver. Dapat siguro pag nangontrata ka ng mga kagamitan kasama ang delivery. Doon nakatengga two million items, iyong mga laptops,” Angara said.

“In fact, takot ilabas. Noong bago ako umupo, sabi ko gamitin na natin iyan,” he added.

Angara also said he tapped the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help with the delivery of the materials.

“Naniniwala ang publiko na kaya natin gawin ang grand visions natin kapag na-reresolba natin ang day-to-day problems like delivering things on time. Kapag nakita nilang nagagawa natin iyan, maniniwala sila doon sa mga grandeng bisyon natin,” he said.