Mayor Gica Stands Firm on Education Agenda
Despite facing criticism over his proposed education reforms, Dumanjug Mayor Efren “Gungun” Gica has declared he will not back down, even under the threat of suspension or removal from office. In a Facebook post on July 2, 2026, Gica stated, “Even under the threat of suspension or removal from office, I will not compromise on the welfare of the municipality of Dumanjug.” However, in a phone interview with SunStar Cebu on July 3, he clarified that he had not received any direct threats, explaining that the post was meant to reaffirm his commitment to the reforms.
Reforms Include Mandatory Saturday Tutorials and Cellphone Ban
The municipality is institutionalizing an education program that includes mandatory Saturday tutorials for Grades 1 to 12, values education, and professional development training for teachers. Classes will be limited to 10 students to provide more focused instruction. Gica also plans to work with local churches to conduct Sunday school programs for children as part of values education. Additionally, a proposed cellphone ban in schools aims to address learning gaps. “Kinahanglan gyud tutokan ang education sa bata. Mao ni ang pag-ban sa cellphone, usa ni sa paagi nga matabangan nato sila. Long overdue na ni nga ordinansa nga gusto nato ipapasar,” Gica said.
Criticism of DepEd's No Child Left Behind Policy
In a statement issued on Thursday, Gica criticized the Department of Education’s “No Child Left Behind” policy, arguing that it removes teacher authority and eliminates academic accountability. “By stripping public school teachers of the authority to enforce discipline and eliminating the accountability of academic grading, the system has inadvertently created a crisis where our youth are, in fact, being left behind,” the statement read. He believes these reforms are necessary to address the education crisis in the country.
Learning Gaps Highlighted by National Data
Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education reveals that nearly four in 10 Grades 1 to 3 pupils in Cebu Province struggle to understand a single paragraph. The assessment, which covered over 263,000 learners at the start of School Year 2025-2026, identified Cebu City and Talisay City as having the highest number of students with poor reading comprehension. Dumanjug launched a summer tutorial program last year for students struggling in English and Mathematics, which is now being expanded into a year-round mandatory Saturday program.
