MANILA — The Senate approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to institutionalize government support for public basic education schools located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

Senate Bill No. 1937, or the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas Schools Act, aims to enhance access to quality education in remote and underserved communities by providing additional classrooms, electricity, learning materials, and internet connectivity.

The proposed law also includes programs tailored for Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

The bill was sponsored by Bam Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, and authored by Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, and Francis Pangilinan.

Aquino said the proposed measure seeks to provide consistent support for students, teachers, and communities in far-flung areas where access to quality education remains limited.

“With this measure, every child in GIDA will have access to quality education, supported by dedicated teachers, proper facilities, and active community involvement,” he said.

Under the bill, schools in GIDA communities will also benefit from infrastructure built using locally sourced and climate-resilient materials, as well as safe access roads developed through coordination among national government agencies and local government units.

Teachers and other personnel assigned to these schools will receive additional compensation and allowances, housing assistance, professional development opportunities, and priority in recruitment, promotion, and career advancement.

The measure also promotes community-based staffing by giving priority to personnel who have cultural ties to the local communities and who can speak the local language.

If enacted into law, the Department of Education will be tasked with adopting national standards for school accessibility and creating a National GIDA Schools Map to guide planning and resource distribution. The agency will also monitor student participation and outcomes and submit annual reports to Congress.