Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the signing of a new law designed to enhance educational access in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), calling it a crucial solution to the persistent hurdles faced by students in the country’s most isolated regions.
As head of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Aquino served as the principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act No. 12321, officially titled the Last Mile and GIDA Schools Act.
Recently signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the measure marks Aquino’s first enacted bill since his return to the Senate in 2025.
“Ang pagsasabatas nito ay isang mahalagang hakbang para matiyak na walang magiging hadlang sa bawat batang Pilipino na makapag-aral, kahit saan man siyang dako ng Pilipinas,” Aquino said.
“Sa tulong nito, umaasa tayong matutuldukan na ang mga sitwasyon na kailangang lumusong sa ilog, maglakad ng ilang kilometro sa gitna ng init, at tumawid sa mga sira-sirang tulay ang ating mga estudyante bago makarating sa paaralan,” he added.
The law mandates that schools be situated within a three-kilometer walking radius of students or remain easily reachable via safe public transit. It also directs relevant government agencies to coordinate on bolstering infrastructure, ensuring classrooms have proper access to roads, power, clean water, and internet connections.
To boost teacher retention in hard-to-reach areas, RA 12321 offers specialized incentives for educators serving GIDA communities, such as extra compensation, housing and transport support, and career advancement programs.
Furthermore, the law prioritizes hiring qualified local residents, willing relocators, or culturally connected personnel to build stronger ties within these remote communities.