President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12321, officially known as the Last Mile and GIDA Schools Act, establishing a institutionalized state mechanism to uplift public basic education in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) alongside other underserved localities.
Enacted on July 22, the legislation institutes the Last Mile and GIDA Schools Program under the Department of Education (DepEd). The program is designed to systematically bridge persistent disparities in educational access across remote, isolated, and conflict-impacted regions.
Under the new law, it becomes official policy to guarantee that students enjoy reasonable geographic access to standardized basic education. It mandates upgrading physical academic facilities, constructing access roads, and designing educational frameworks tailored to hard-to-reach communities.
DepEd is tasked with identifying eligible GIDA and Last Mile schools using measurable criteria, supported by a national mapping database updated triennially to direct strategic planning and rollout.
The statute directs DepEd to establish a national accessibility benchmark aimed at ensuring, where viable, that children can reach a school within a 3-kilometer walking distance.
Furthermore, line agencies—such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Energy (DOE)—must collaborate with DepEd to deliver essential infrastructure, including connectivity, roads, power, and transit services.
The law mandates the development of disaster- and climate-resilient school structures, advocating for sustainable, locally sourced resources like engineered bamboo whenever feasible.
To resolve staffing deficits in far-flung areas, the measure introduces a robust incentive and support package for teachers and administrative personnel deployed to GIDA locations, covering localized recruitment, professional growth, housing assistance, and supplemental compensation.
In addition, DepEd is required to introduce context-appropriate learning delivery systems, bolster student support services, and prioritize the rollout of clean water, sanitation, power grids, digital tools, and internet access in remote campuses.
Local school boards will work alongside DepEd to implement these measures, while the agency will present annual progress reports to Congress and conduct regular performance reviews.
Funding will be drawn from the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), with participating agencies expected to release the law’s implementing rules and regulations within 90 days of effectivity.