FEATURE 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Frengie Gandiongco-Botoy

SEPS-Planning and Research

SDO-Agusan del Norte

𝗔 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Reynaldo Antonio Laguda's work on decentralizing Philippine basic education stands out as a thoughtful push toward making the system more responsive and equitable.

As a former DepEd undersecretary and now a key voice in policy circles through The Asia Foundation and EDCOM II (the Second Congressional Commission on Education), Laguda co-led the development of a comprehensive Decentralization Framework in the 2025 policy paper "Realizing Shared Governance: Decentralization of Philippine Basic Education."

While it's a collaborative effort with co-authors Gil Aquino, Linda Cangayao, and Ria Tagle, Laguda's background in DepEd governance gives him a central role in shaping its concepts, he's often highlighted as the lead in discussions and related events.

This framework isn't just theoretical; it's rooted in a deep analysis of DepEd's entrenched centralization, drawing on laws such as R.A. No. 9155 (the Governance of Basic Education Act) and R.A. No. 7160 (the Local Government Code), as well as EDCOM II's broader reform agenda.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

At its core, the framework tackles the "why" of decentralization: the Philippine education system serves over 28 million learners but remains bogged down by a top-down structure that concentrates decision-making, finances, and oversight at DepEd's Central Office.

This leads to what the paper calls a "culture of control and over-compliance," think endless memos and rigid hierarchies that stifle creativity at the regional, division, and school levels. Laguda and his team point out that this setup creates inefficiencies, such as duplicated roles across offices and an overstretched bureaucracy that can't keep up with diverse local needs, whether in remote islands or urban slums.

For instance, 45% of schools lack permanent principals, and 75% of households are unaware of key tools such as School Improvement Plans (SIPs) and School Governance Councils (SGCs). The result? A learning crisis where centralized policies fail to deliver equitable outcomes, especially in underserved areas.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘄: 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺

The "how" of the framework is practical and phased, emphasizing "deconcentration" within DepEd (shifting powers to field offices) alongside "asymmetric devolution" to Local Government Units (LGUs) and Local School Boards (LSBs), meaning not a one-size-fits-all handover but a tailored approach based on local readiness.

Laguda conceptualizes this through what he dubs the CARAT elements: Capacity, Authority, Resources, Accountability, and Transparency (with some variations noting "Culture" as a factor). It's about aligning responsibilities at every level: Central Office sets standards and monitors; Regional Offices craft localized policies; Division Offices handle implementation and resources; Schools focus on instructional leadership through empowered principals; and LGUs step up through SEF (Special Education Fund) and LSBs for infrastructure and community support.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗕𝗠)

A standout feature is the reconceptualization of School-Based Management (SBM), which Laguda sees as the frontline of decentralization. Currently, SBM often devolves into paperwork overload without absolute autonomy, teachers are buried in reports, and schools scrape by on inequitable Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allocations.

The framework calls for reviving SBM grants (discontinued after 2016), tiering MOOE to ensure fairness (e.g., higher floors for remote schools), and reducing prescriptive rules to allow principals to innovate. It also calls for stronger participatory tools, such as SGCs, SIPs, and School Report Cards, to involve parents, communities, and civil society.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽

Implementation is structured as a phased, DepEd-led process with a clear roadmap. It begins with a preparation phase that outlines milestones, such as legislative adjustments to R.A. No. 9155 or internal policy changes.

The next step involves piloting in high-readiness regions or divisions, testing the deconcentration of programs such as computerization or last-mile schools, and delegating procurement and beneficiary selection downward while the Central Office maintains oversight.

Capacity building is essential: retraining staff through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), fostering cross-level mentoring, and establishing monitoring systems for real-time feedback. For LGUs, this means expanding the use of SEF, harmonizing budgets with DepEd, and broadening LSB membership to include more stakeholders.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱

Laguda has described this as a "full-circle moment" in his own reflections, tying back to his DepEd days and stressing that decentralization isn't about losing control but building a system where local actors drive better results.

Fact-checking across sources, including EDCOM II's website and recent discussions, confirms that no significant shifts have occurred since the paper's November 2025 release; it's still positioned as a blueprint for EDCOM II's "Turning Point" reforms through 2035. Recent DepEd moves, like LGU-led classroom construction, echo its spirit, but full adoption would require legislative buy-in and cultural change within the agency.

In essence, Laguda's framework offers a grounded path forward, reminding us that true reform means empowering those closest to the learners.

𝗘𝗡𝗗

NB. The title “2025 National Planning Conference” has been retained despite the activity being held in 2026. The conference was originally scheduled for implementation in 2025; however, it was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Keeping the original title preserves the integrity of the 2025 planning cycle and maintains alignment with the preparatory documents and communications already issued for that year.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

Read related stories at these links:

#PhilippineEducation #Decentralization #LagudaFramework #SBMReform #DepEdInnovation #EducationPolicyPH #LocalGovernance #EmpoweredSchools #EDCOMII #SharedGovernance