The Department of Education prepares for the implementation of the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (Gida) Schools Act, which aims to improve access to quality education in remote and underserved communities.
Signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and set to take effect on Aug. 12, 2026, the measure institutionalizes multi-agency support, infrastructure standards, and incentives for teachers assigned to far-flung schools.
‘We can no longer leave behind our teachers and learners in the farthest corners of the country,’ said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
‘We are putting in place concrete solutions to a long-standing problem: ensuring that learners have decent classrooms, enough well-supported and protected teachers, and schools that are more accessible to students,’ Angara said.
Under the law, DepEd will serve as the implementing agency tasked with issuing evidence-based guidelines for identifying covered schools.
The department will review its existing criteria for Last Mile and Gida schools, including indicators such as areas where more than 75% of learners belong to Indigenous Peoples communities or are affected by conflict and disasters.
Schools established within ancestral domains must comply with the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 and requirements on Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
To improve access to education in remote areas, the law requires DepEd to develop a National Last Mile and GIDA School Map within one year of its effectivity.
The map will serve as the basis for planning, resource allocation, and program implementation, and will be updated at least once every three years.
DepEd’s existing mapping system for Last Mile and Gida schools will be revised to align with the new law.
The law sets a national accessibility standard requiring basic education schools to be located within a three-kilometer walkable distance from learners’ homes whenever possible.
In areas where geography, terrain, or security concerns make physical access difficult, DepEd and local government units will provide transportation support and alternative learning delivery modes
For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways will ensure the construction of accessible roads.
The measure also provides a comprehensive support package for teachers and non-teaching personnel assigned to isolated and high-risk areas, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, LGUs, and other government agencies.
It includes career development opportunities through specialized training, scholarships tied to return-to-service obligations, and career progression pathways.
The law likewise promotes localized recruitment by prioritizing residents and culturally and linguistically aligned candidates, while recognizing Indigenous knowledge systems educators and culture-bearers.
DepEd said it is finalizing the implementing rules and technical guidelines to ensure the law’s smooth implementation once it takes effect next month.
Prior to the law’s enactment, there were around 9,000 last mile schools nationwide serving 2.5 million learners, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education.
About half of these schools are located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. INQ