DepEd sticks to Top 1 rule in nat'l school competition

EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday acknowledged the sentiment of campus journalists and school paper advisers calling on the department to allow the Top 3 Regional Schools Press Conference winners in the individual category to compete in the National Schools Press Conference, which will be held this year in Ormoc City, but said the Top 1 rule will stick for now.

- BY ASHZEL HACHERO

Angara cited financial and logistical costs as well as the need to limit classroom disruptions in his decision.

“Secretary Angara acknowledges the sentiments of the campus journalism community. While we transitioned to a ‘Top 1’ format during the pandemic to ensure safety, the current decision to maintain this limit is a strategic move to manage fiscal resources effectively. Especially with the 2026 oil crisis impacting travel and logistical costs, this allows us to sustain the NSPC’s quality without compromising the department's overall budget for learner development,” Angara’s communications team said in a statement.