President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12321, or the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Schools Act, institutionalizing government support for public basic education schools in remote and underserved communities across the country.
Signed on July 22, 2026, the law establishes a national program under the Department of Education (DepEd) aimed at addressing gaps in school infrastructure, learning resources, teacher support, and essential services in Last Mile and GIDA Schools.
The measure defines Last Mile and GIDA Schools as public schools located in remote, hard-to-reach, underserved, or economically disadvantaged communities where access to safe and quality basic education is limited due to inadequate infrastructure, resources, personnel, and prevailing social and environmental conditions.
Schools may qualify under the program if they serve communities with high numbers of Indigenous Peoples learners, are located in conflict-affected or disaster-prone areas, or meet other criteria to be determined by DepEd.
Under the law, DepEd is tasked with adopting a national school accessibility standard to help ensure that learners have access to a public basic education school within a walkable distance of three kilometers from their homes.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is also directed to build and maintain access roads to these schools, while local government units are expected to provide transportation services or alternative learning delivery modes in areas where travel is difficult.
The law further requires DepEd to develop and publish a National Last Mile and GIDA Schools Map within one year from its effectivity to guide planning, resource allocation, and program implementation.
It also mandates a whole-of-government approach, directing agencies such as the DPWH, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to help improve roads, electricity, internet connectivity, water supply, transportation, and other essential services for beneficiary schools.
The measure likewise requires DepEd to implement programs that address the needs of learners in Last Mile and GIDA Schools, including alternative learning delivery, learning materials and equipment, feeding and health programs, water and sanitation facilities, electrification, computerization, and prioritization under the Adopt-a-School Program.
To support educators assigned to remote communities, the law provides additional benefits for teaching and non-teaching personnel, including hardship and mobility allowances, housing assistance, professional development opportunities, scholarships, localized recruitment, and career advancement mechanisms.
For schools located within ancestral domains, the law requires the integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices, indigenous languages, and culturally relevant learning materials while ensuring compliance with the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act.
The measure also directs DepEd to monitor learner participation, retention, and learning outcomes in Last Mile and GIDA Schools and submit annual implementation reports to Congress. The department is likewise required to review the program after its first three years of implementation and every three years thereafter.
Funding for the implementation of the law will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, while its implementing rules and regulations must be issued within 90 days from its effectivity.
