MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is moving to modernize the implementation of scouting programs in Philippine schools, with new discussions focused on making the activities more inclusive, relevant and responsive to the realities faced by learners today.
The policy review could reshape how scouting is implemented in basic education as the agency works with major scouting organizations to revisit rules that have been in place for more than a decade.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the modernization aims to ensure that learners gain practical leadership skills, resilience and civic responsibility while participating in a safe and supportive school environment.
The initiative followed the Stakeholders’ Convergence on the Harmonization of Scouting Programs in Basic Education held on August 25, 2026, where education officials and scouting stakeholders examined existing policies and discussed possible revisions.
DepEd revisits 2012 scouting rules
At the center of the review are the existing guidelines covering the two major scouting organizations operating in schools.
These include DepEd Order No. 76, s. 2012, covering the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), and DepEd Order No. 86, s. 2012, covering the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP).
DepEd is now considering revisions to harmonize the implementation of the two programs and address challenges that have emerged since the guidelines were introduced.
The agency’s move is significant because scouting remains one of the major co-curricular activities available to learners, particularly in developing leadership, teamwork, discipline and community involvement.
The existing Boy Scouting guidelines, for example, describe scouting as a co-curricular program intended to support leadership and values formation. The policy also states that membership should be voluntary and should not be made a requirement for enrollment, transfer or clearance.
Safety and student welfare take center stage
The policy review comes as DepEd continues to place greater emphasis on school safety and learner welfare.
According to DepEd, the updated scouting framework is expected to help create learning environments that protect learners’ physical and mental well-being while strengthening character formation, leadership and community service.
Angara described scouting as more than an extracurricular activity, emphasizing practical skills such as discipline, teamwork and crisis management.
The department also sees these programs as potentially contributing to efforts to address school-based violence and other safety concerns.
This emphasis is particularly timely as DepEd has separately intensified school-safety initiatives, including nationwide safety drills and preparations for human-induced hazards.
BSP calls for rules that reflect today’s realities
Boy Scouts of the Philippines Senior Vice President Jose Mari Pelaez said the current guidelines need to be updated because schools and scouting organizations now face challenges that were not necessarily anticipated when the rules were first issued.
The goal, he said, is to ensure scouting activities continue to contribute to the well-rounded development of learners.
The proposed modernization therefore goes beyond simply changing administrative procedures. It could affect how schools organize activities, train leaders and provide learners with opportunities to develop practical skills.
Girl Scouts emphasize partnership
Girl Scouts of the Philippines President Dr. Cristina Lim-Yuson likewise stressed the importance of continued cooperation between DepEd, scouting organizations and community partners.
She characterized the initiative as a shared responsibility rather than simply a matter of funding.
The GSP has continued to conduct its programs under the existing DepEd framework. For School Year 2026–2027, DepEd divisions are still issuing memoranda concerning voluntary GSP registration and implementation, demonstrating that the existing rules remain operational while the broader review is underway.
What could change for students?
While DepEd has not yet announced a final replacement for the existing scouting orders, the current consultation points toward several areas that could receive greater attention.
These include:
- Learner safety and welfare
- More inclusive participation
- Leadership and character development
- Practical and real-world skills
- Community service
- Crisis-management and resilience skills
- Closer coordination among DepEd, BSP, GSP and community partners
- Clearer and more harmonized implementation rules
However, it is important to distinguish between proposed policy changes and rules that are already in force.
The latest developments indicate that DepEd is still in the process of reviewing and modernizing the guidelines. The existing 2012 orders continue to provide the policy framework for scouting activities while the proposed revisions are being developed.
Scouting remains a major part of learner development
DepEd’s decision to revisit the rules does not signal an end to school scouting.
Instead, the agency says it wants to strengthen the program and make it more responsive to today’s learners.
Scouting provides students with opportunities to develop skills that are difficult to acquire solely inside the classroom—from teamwork and leadership to outdoor skills, discipline, community service and emergency preparedness.
Recent school-level issuances also show that scouting remains active across different parts of the country.
For example, DepEd divisions have issued guidance covering scouting activities, teacher orientations, membership registration and school-based programs for the 2026–2027 school year.
In Pasig City, DepEd has specifically listed a stakeholder convergence concerning the proposed revision of DepEd Orders 76 and 86, s. 2012, underscoring that the harmonization effort is already moving through the department’s field offices.
The bigger picture
The proposed scouting reforms form part of Angara’s broader education agenda, including the Quality Basic Education Development Plan and Five-Point Reform Agenda.
The underlying objective is to ensure that activities outside the classroom complement academic learning instead of becoming disconnected from it.
For millions of Filipino learners, that could mean a scouting program that places greater emphasis not only on traditional activities and ceremonies, but also on resilience, leadership, community engagement and skills that students can carry into everyday life.
For now, the most important development is that the rules are under review—not yet replaced.
The next major question is what specific provisions DepEd will ultimately approve and how those changes will affect schools, teachers, parents and student scouts nationwide.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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