Functional

EDCOM 2 noted that while the first EDCOM sought to streamline DepEd’s functions — leading to the creation of agencies such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Sports Commission — more than 150 new laws and executive issuances since 2001 have added even more responsibilities to the department.

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Department of Social Welfare and Development, serving as Disaster Risk Reduction and Management coordinators under RA 10121 and overseeing the National Drug Education Program.

“These added responsibilities have aggravated the deficit of support staff in schools, forcing teachers to absorb ancillary and administrative work,” Yee said, adding that non-teaching tasks take up significant time and affect instructional quality and learning outcomes.

To address the issue, DepEd said it is streamlining interagency engagements under an education cluster within the office of the President's Cabinet.

Since 1982, DepEd’s mandates have expanded significantly — covering 21 laws on curriculum and teaching, 10 on culture and civics, 18 on health and safety and hundreds of laws establishing or converting schools.