Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has entered into a partnership with local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the construction of classrooms across the country. This collaborative effort aims to address the significant classroom backlog currently affecting the nation's educational infrastructure.

According to Philippines News Agency, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed, garnering the support of 90 percent of provinces nationwide. This agreement formalizes a comprehensive framework designed to expedite school infrastructure projects, marking a shift towards unified action in tackling the classroom shortage crisis. The signatories include representatives from local government leagues such as the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the signatures symbolize the end of isolated efforts and the beginning of shared responsibility, highlighting that the collaboration with LGUs aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives to quickly address the classroom deficit, which currently stands at 165,000.

The MOA outlines that LGUs will oversee the construction, replacement, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms within their areas. This includes managing procurement, supervising contractors, and implementing projects in line with national regulations. Meanwhile, DepEd will focus on identifying priority schools, providing standard classroom designs, and maintaining oversight to ensure that projects adhere to national standards for safety, accessibility, and quality.

The agreement further details shared responsibilities in funding and long-term maintenance, setting strict monitoring and transparency requirements to ensure efficient project completion and responsible use of public funds.