Ilocos norte: The Ilocos Norte provincial government is collaborating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to enhance classroom and building facilities for over 72,000 students ranging from Kinder to Grade 12.

According to Philippines News Agency, a provincial board resolution has empowered Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos to sign a supplemental memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DepEd, represented by Assistant Secretary Aurelio Paulo Bartolome or other authorized personnel. This agreement pertains to the development of school building projects under the Basic Education Facilities Program, which is financed by the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

Provincial Board member Marlon Sales, who serves as the chairperson of the Committee on Public Works and Highways, announced on Tuesday that an initial PHP50 million has been secured by the provincial government. An additional PHP100 million will be released once the MOA is finalized. Sales emphasized in a media interview that this initiative will lead to the enhancement of more schools across the province.

Among the schools to benefit are at least five classrooms at San Antonio Elementary School in Sarrat, which were destroyed by a fire on July 2, 2025. The program, funded annually by DepEd, focuses on improving school infrastructure, which includes constructing new classrooms, replacing outdated buildings, providing necessary furniture, repairing classrooms and heritage structures, and ensuring the availability of water, sanitation, and electrification facilities.

This year, local government units (LGUs) with counterpart funding have been assigned the responsibility of expediting the construction of essential school facilities within their respective areas. The MOA stipulates that DepEd, in collaboration with the LGU, will use the updated Instructional Room Analysis from the Basic Education Information System to identify and prioritize schools.

The partnership between DepEd and LGUs to address the nationwide classroom shortage aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives. This collaboration aims to ensure the timely completion of projects and the efficient use of public funds through combined efforts.