Ched Rick Gatchalian

A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DepEd urges strict regulation of online gambling

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Education Secretary Sonny Angara has called for tighter controls on online gambling platforms that could be luring some students and minors.</p><p>“Sana nga iyong safeguards sa online [gambling] ay maging mahigpit. Hindi basta-basta kahit bata pwede magtayo ng account. Sana huwag ganon, Kasi hindi pa financially responsible ang mga bata,” Angara said in an interview. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/7/17/online-gambling-leaves-teens-emotionally-scarred-2231">Online gambling leaves teens emotionally scarred</a></div><p>The education secretary raised concerns about how some minors could be using funds intended for school-related expenses to gamble online, a behavior he warned could have damaging long-term effects.</p><p>“Maaaring iyong pera para sa libro, iyon ang gastusin nila para sa gambling. So sana maging ano tayo, mapanuri,” he said.</p><p>Angara emphasized the need for vigilance from both parents and educators in monitoring the activities of minors, particularly their digital behavior.</p><p>“Iyong mga magulang din, iyong mga teachers, bantayan din iyong mga bata,” he added.</p><p>When asked whether he would support a ban or stricter measures against online gambling, Angara said he is for tighter regulations.</p><p>“Well, at the very least, strict regulation sana,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/29/marcos-concerned-with-online-gambling-additional-regulations-being-discussed-recto-1514">Marcos concerned with online gambling, additional regulations being discussed—Recto</a></div><p>He pointed out the difficulty in identifying users behind screens, which could allow minors to bypass age restrictions.</p><p>“Kasi pag online hindi mo talaga alam sino iyong nasa likod ng isang keyboard o nakahawak sa telepono o gadget. Maaaring menor de edad,” Angara said.</p><p>As a potential solution, Angara suggested stricter identity verification measures for gambling account holders like requiring the submission of an ID to discourage underage users.</p><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w1dtd6cJYSI" title="Online gambling gustong paimbestigahan ni Sen. Erwin Tulfo | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5xp1w88cgw" title="Pangilinan: Just ban online gambling if gov&#x27;t can&#x27;t regulate it | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PARTNERSHIP WITH DBP</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, in a renewed effort to boost access to quality education across the country,  the DepEd partnered with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for a comprehensive five-year program that would fund public school improvements and scholarships for underprivileged students.</p><p>DBP pledged to support the DepEd through the launch of the Integrated Scholastic Program for Inclusive and Responsive Education (INSPIRE), an omnibus initiative that earmarks a total of P510 million to uplift both the basic and higher education sectors.</p><p>“Education has always been a top priority of DBP. It’s important. It’s our future. We’ve been doing this for the past 20 years or so,” said DBP president and CEO Michael De Jesus at the launch event on Thursday.</p><p>The INSPIRE program builds upon the bank’s two previous scholarship initiative, DEEP (DBP Endowment for Education Program) from 2008 to 2018 and DBP RISE (Resources for Inclusive and Sustainable Education) from 2018 to 2023, which collectively supported over 5,800 scholars with graduation rates of 94 and 96 percent, respectively.</p><p>Under INSPIRE, DBP aims to expand its impact, especially with the introduction of an outreach component that targets the basic education sector. The program has earmarked P72.5 million to assist up to 150 public elementary and high schools over five years through the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela and Adopt-a-School Programs.</p><p>“It will be undertaken under the existing Adopt-a-School Program law… The beneficiaries will be selected by DepEd themselves,” said DBP First Vice President Zandro Sison.</p><p>Angara welcomed the initiative and its alignment with the Marcos administration’s priority to improve the country’s learning conditions.</p><p>“Malaking tulong itong programa ng DBP dahil mapaghuhusayan ng mga public schools iyong edukasyon at iyong quality of education na binanggit ng ating Pangulo,” Angara said.</p><p>He said the initiative would benefit not only urban centers like Metro Manila but also schools in far-flung provinces.</p><p>The higher education scholarship component of INSPIRE will utilize P437.5 million to support at least 1,750 financially challenged college students over five years. Each batch will accommodate at least 350 scholars who will receive full financial assistance, including tuition, miscellaneous fees, and living expenses.</p><p>Courses prioritized under the scholarship include those aligned with national development needs, such as engineering, agriculture, information technology, maritime, education, and technical-vocational fields.</p><p>The program will be implemented in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education and will operate through a network of DBP-accredited partner schools.</p><p>“Over the years, we were pleased to know that the results were very encouraging. In fact, one of the more palpable accomplishments of the program is the employment rate of their graduates is even higher than the country’s employment rate,” said Sison.</p>

<p>Education Secretary Sonny Angara has called for tighter controls on online gambling platforms that could be luring some students and minors.</p>

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has called for tighter controls on online gambling platforms that could be luring some students and minors.