THE Department of Education-Davao Region (DepEd-Davao) has appealed to parents to enroll their children in schools closer to their residences to avoid unnecessary travel burdens and help ease overcrowding in certain public schools.
In a radio interview with dxDC RMN Davao on June 18, 2025, DepEd-Davao spokesperson Jenielito “Dodong” Atillo reported that the opening week of classes in the Davao Region had generally been peaceful and orderly. However, some schools experienced crowding due to an unnecessarily significant influx of enrollees.
Atillo explained that the congestion in several schools stemmed from parents choosing to enroll their children in institutions far from home, bypassing nearer options that would have been more practical. He emphasized that choosing nearby schools not only benefits children by reducing travel time and fatigue but also lightens the daily responsibilities of parents who accompany them to school.
The reminder comes as nearly 1.4 million students across the Davao Region returned to school on Monday, June 16, marking the start of School Year 2025–2026.
Under the Department of Education’s “Lesson One on Day One” policy, classes began immediately, doing away with traditional opening-day routines such as orientations or campus cleanups.
DepEd-Davao Regional Director Allan Farnazo noted that the first day of school ran smoothly, with most schools meeting or nearing their target enrollments. “Our goal is simple: on day one, lesson one,” Farnazo said in a Viber interview, expressing satisfaction that learning was immediately underway in most schools across the region.
As the academic year begins, DepEd-Davao remains focused on improving learning delivery while addressing logistical issues such as school population density.
Atillo said that he is hopeful that community cooperation, particularly from parents making more practical school choices, will contribute to a more efficient and student-friendly education system in the region. DEF