Rappler has been reporting on the troubling truths about the country's education system, which stem from decades of neglect and underinvestment. While these realities are disheartening, we hope the government will take action to address them moving forward.

A thread 🧵: Grade 8 and 9 students are struggling with skills they should have learned by Grade 4. I think as long as we keep electing leaders who don’t prioritize education, things will continue to worsen. rappler.com/philippines/fi…

NEWS UPDATE: The Philippines is now back to "high-risk" classification for COVID-19 as threat of Delta looms. @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Over a week ago, the DOH just classified the country as "moderate risk" for the virus. @rapplerdotcom rappler.com/nation/doh-say…

BREAKING NEW. 119 Delta variant cases are detected in the Philippines. This brings the total Delta variant cases in the country to 450. @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Of the 119 new cases, 93 are local cases, 20 are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), and six cases are still for verification. @rapplerdotcom

[THREAD] On October 5, public schools will reopen in the middle of a still untamed coronavirus outbreak in the country that has so far claimed over 5,600 lives and left 4.6 million Filipinos jobless. Due to the persistent coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Education would be implementing a distance learning approach when classes start on October 5.

Here's what you need to know about distance learning: rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/t…

NOW: House briefing on the Department of Justice-Led Task Force on PhilHealth report @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran is present in today's briefing. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DepEd gives updates on school opening @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom LOOK: Compensation rates of Learning Support Aides (LAS) @rapplerdotcom

NOW: Senate hearing on DepEd's proposed budget for 2021 @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Senator Sonny Angara asks DepEd if there will be enough teachers in case voting hours for elections will be extended.

Briones: I'd imagine that there will be sufficient. Our law, however, says that in case we need more, we can tap other sectors. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DOH holds virtual media forum @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña says the Philippines has signed 6 confidentiality data agreements with the following pharmaceutical companies for COVID-19 vaccine development:

Reacting to a study that ranked Philippines 66th out of 91 countries in coronavirus suppression, the Department of Health vows to continue its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire: "We always receive comments. There are rankings, specific comments. But ang sa amin, magtatatrabaho lang kami ng tuloy-tuloy. Kami ay sama-samang nagtatatrabaho." @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DepEd gives updates on school opening @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Usec Josephine Maribojoc presents DepEd's child protection program for the conduct of distance learning @rapplerdotcom

NOW: House deliberations on DOH 2021 budget @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Health Secretary Francisco Duque III appeals for the support of the Congress to approve the proposed budget under the house facilities enhancement program with an additional P10 billion budget. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: House hearing on CHED 2021 budget @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Rep Stella Qumbo: May balak po ba ang CHED na tulungan ang mga private institutions? @rapplerdotcom

NOW: House hearing on DepEd budget for 2021 @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Secretary Leonor Briones: We're looking at this budget for the framework of education. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: House hearing on the DOH budget for 2021 @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom DOH Secretary Francisco Duque: Our primary goal in 2021 is to build on a universal health care for all Filipinos. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DepEd gives updates on school opening @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom CONTEXT: Can the Duterte government pull off a school opening in October with no student left behind?

Here's a list of the issues that government must prioritize before millions of basic education students start schooling. @rapplerdotcom rappler.com/newsbreak/expl…

NOW: House hearing on school opening issues @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations managing director Joseph Noel Estrada presents their recommendation on gradual reopening of face-to-face classes. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DepEd gives updates on school opening

Pasig City Mayor @VicoSotto presents their preparations for the school opening on October 5 @rapplerdotcom @VicoSotto @rapplerdotcom Sotto: Hindi po dapat tayo tumigil ngayon dahil may pandemya. @rapplerdotcom

NEWS UPDATE: DOH Usec Maria Rosario Vergeire say that medical studies show that dolomite dust can cause respiratory problems.

"Mayroon pong sinsasabi sa mga pag aaral na kapag na inhale po ito ng mga tao ay may mga adverse reactions, respiratory mainly." @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Vergeire: I think with the clearance of the DENR, hindi naman ipapatupad ng DENR 'yan kung hindi napag aralan na this will cause harm to the environment and also to our people. @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DOH holds virtual media forum @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Usec Maria Rosario Vergeire gives updates ng vaccines: 'Yung last meeting namin with Pfizer walang commitment na nangyare. Nagbigay sila ng information na hindi sila gagawa ng clinical trials dito sa Pilipinas. Most of the discussions are centered on the NDA. @rapplerdotcom

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III asks Senate to be fair:
Attending to various concerns of the DOH, IATF and PhilHealth is not an easy thing for a man who has made advancing public health care in the country a personal mission. @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Duque: “These are not normal times and it is not easy for me to just accept all the blows hurled at me.” @rapplerdotcom

NOW: DepEd gives updates on the school opening on October 5 @rapplerdotcom @rapplerdotcom Education Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo says hey are hoping for a "smooth and successful school opening" on October 5. @rapplerdotcom