The Department of Education (DepEd) is currently delivering laptops and other learning items to around 46,000 public schools nationwide to help students fully benefit from technology in learning, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said on 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 among Cabinet officials held at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center in San Juan City.
Angara said President Ferdinand R. Marcos has directed the Department of Education (DepEd) to resolve the immediate concerns of teachers and learners.
As an example, Angara noted that many students performed poorly in computerized examinations simply because they did not know how to use a computer mouse, highlighting the urgent need to improve digital literacy in schools.
“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,” Angara said.
He said DepEd has provided all students who took the last Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams with laptops.
“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,” Angara said.
Aside from laptops, Angara said DepEd is distributing a total of two million learning materials, including books and classroom furniture, which have not been delivered to public schools under the previous DepEd leadership.
“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 said he had asked for the assistance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deliver the items to the public schools.
“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,” Angara said. ǀ PND
