Under the law, the DepEd shall adopt a national school accessibility standard to ensure that learners have access to a basic education school within a walkable distance of three kilometers from their homes. (File photo)President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure institutionalizing government support for public schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) and other underserved communities, aiming to expand access to quality basic education nationwide. Under the law, the DepEd shall adopt a national school accessibility standard to guide school planning and infrastructure development, to ensure that learners have access to a basic education school within a walkable distance of three kilometers from their homes. The law also requires the DepEd to roll out programs tailored to the needs of learners in Last Mile and GIDA Schools. The law provides that funding for its implementation will come from the budgets of the agencies concerned.—LDF, GMA News