ORMOC CITY (PIA) — Amid ongoing debates about the future of the country’s K–12 program, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara clarified that Senior High School (SHS) will be strengthened to meet the needs of Filipino learners.
Secretary Angara, who was in Ormoc City for the ongoing National Schools Press Conference, said reforms are already underway to improve the current system rather than dismantle it.

“The K-12 program is a law – we cannot do anything about it. What we need is to strengthen the curriculum so it becomes more relevant, efficient, and beneficial to learners,” Angara said.

Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, the DepEd is making improvements in SHS curriculum, focusing on aligning classroom instruction with real-world skills, ensuring that students are not only academically competent but also industry-ready.
DepEd Memorandum No. 12, Series of 2026, provides for the full implementation of the Strengthened SHS Curriculum in Grade 11 starting School Year 2026–2027 to improve employability and academic readiness.

Key changes include reducing core subjects to five, removing traditional strands in favor of flexible elective clusters such as STEM, Arts, Business, Technical, and increasing specialized training for Grade 11.

The strengthened SHS curriculum introduces key structural, instructional, and content reforms to foster mastery of foundational skills, enhance learner choice based on ability and aspirations, and improve workforce readiness.

These changes are designed to ensure that learners acquire relevant skills and competencies aligned with the demands of higher education, middle skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

Work immersion will also remain a cornerstone of the program. Under the strengthened SHS, work immersion will be expanded and strengthened through partnerships with local industries.

“Our goal is to make sure that students leave school prepared, whether for college, employment, or entrepreneurship,” Angara said.

Through partnerships with various industries, learners are exposed to actual job environments with greater access to on-the-job training opportunities, giving them a glimpse of real workplace environments before they graduate and helping them develop technical skills, work ethics, and professionalism.

As reforms continue, DepEd underscores its commitment to making education more relevant, ensuring that what students learn in the classroom translates into meaningful opportunities beyond it.

(ACR, PIA Leyte)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF), in partnership with the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), conducted a joint flight operation as part of Cope Thunder Philippines 26-1 on 08 April 2026 at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga.

The activity, which was also covered by selected media personnel, featured FA-50PH Fighting Eagle flying alongside F-22 Raptor, highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen coordination and operational synergy between allied air forces.

The joint flight underscores the enduring partnership between the PAF and PACAF, contributing to enhanced interoperability and readiness through sustained training engagements.

It also reflects a shared commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region, in line with the PAF’s thrust of building a mission-oriented, capability-driven, and values-based organization.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a new staff housing facility in MacArthur, Leyte, aimed at improving employee welfare and operational readiness, particularly for personnel assigned far from their homes.
Constructed by the DPWH Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO), the two-storey multi-purpose building serves as a staff house designed to provide safe, accessible, and comfortable accommodation for employees.

The facility has a total floor area of 517.5 square meters and includes designated quarters for male and female personnel, along with essential amenities such as comfort rooms. Its open ground floor, measuring 35 meters by 11.5 meters, is intended for various functions including trainings, meetings, and emergency preparedness activities.

Officials said the new structure is expected to enhance productivity by reducing travel time for employees assigned to distant project sites, allowing them to remain focused and responsive in their duties while supporting better work-life balance.

Beyond housing, the building is also seen to strengthen teamwork and coordination by providing a shared space for collaboration and professional development activities.

Engr. Sharon Agustin, officer-in-charge assistant district engineer of DPWH-L2DEO, said the facility addresses long-standing challenges faced by personnel following the relocation of their office. She noted that many employees previously commuted from towns such as Carigara, Barugo, Jaro, and Tunga, making daily travel difficult.

The staff house, she added, not only accommodates employees but can also host visiting personnel from the DPWH Central Office, while the ground floor can be utilized for trainings and emergency response-related programs.

Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the project was implemented with a contract cost of P19.58 million by WJ Builders.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)