By Dang Samson Garcia

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado urged the Department of Education to undertake measures that will improve student performance.

Bordado made the statement after the House of Representatives terminated the interpellation period on the proposed P758.59-billion budget of the DepEd for next year.

House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairman and Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora justified the proposed allocation by enumerating the support programs and activities aligned with the MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa agenda, which seeks to address education challenges.

These programs include providing accessible, equitable, and quality basic education; making the curriculum relevant; taking steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education through facilities and resources; taking good care of learners; and giving support for teachers.

At the same time, Zamora assured ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro that the DepEd adopted the National Learning Recovery Program aiming to bridge the gaps to solve the learning poverty among Filipino students.

The NLRP consists of the National Learning Camp, National Reading Program, National Mathematics Program, National Science and Technology Program, and other similar programs implemented to support learning recovery efforts.