Two Senate bills have been filed seeking to establish public elementary and secondary schools in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City, in a move aimed at improving access to basic education for thousands of residents in the densely populated community.
Senate Bill Nos. 2277 and 2278 propose the creation of a public elementary school and a public high school in the barangay, addressing long-standing gaps in local education infrastructure and reducing the need for students to travel to neighboring areas for schooling.
The measures note that students in Barangay Tumana currently commute to schools outside the area, resulting in additional transportation costs and longer travel time for families.
“Dagdag na gastusin pa sa mga pamilya ang pamasaheng kailangang ilaan para makapag-aral ang kanilang mga anak. Karapatan ng bawat Pilipino ang makapag-aral dahil ito rin ang tatapos sa kahirapang dinaranas ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said in his explanatory note.
He added that establishing schools within the barangay would bring basic and secondary education closer to learners and help ensure that no child is left behind.
“Establishing public schools in Barangay Tumana will bring basic and secondary education closer to the community and help ensure that no child is left behind,” he said.
Barangay Tumana, with an estimated population of nearly 50,000, is one of Marikina City’s largest and most densely populated areas and currently does not have its own public elementary or secondary school.
The proposals also state that funding for the establishment and operations of the schools will be included in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget under the annual General Appropriations Act.
The bills form part of broader legislative efforts to expand access to public education and improve learning opportunities in underserved communities.