Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced a budget allocation of approximately PHP9.6 billion aimed at constructing 4,000 classrooms across the nation to tackle the shortage of learning spaces.
According to Philippines News Agency, the announcement was made during a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs). This partnership aims to expedite classroom construction and resolve the existing backlog in educational infrastructure.
The ceremony, held at Malaca±an Palace in Manila, marked the launch of the first phase of the Nationwide Classroom Construction Program, financed under the newly signed MOA. President Marcos emphasized that the initial tranche will fund the construction of 4,000 new classrooms, enhancing both learning and teaching experiences.
The allocation includes PHP4.1 billion for provincial governments to build an estimated 1,200 classrooms, while the DepEd will secure approximately 2,800 prefabricated classrooms worth over PHP5 billion. Marcos committed to prioritizing the education sector for the rest of his term, focusing on addressing the classroom shortage of 145,000 units projected by December 2025.
Marcos highlighted the challenges faced by students, teachers, and parents due to inadequate facilities. He stressed the urgency of bridging this gap and outlined the administration's efforts to explore alternative solutions for immediate impact.
The collaboration between DepEd and LGUs represents a strategic government initiative to accelerate school building projects, providing teachers and students with improved and safer educational environments. Additionally, the DepEd is exploring public-private partnerships to further expand classroom construction efforts.
During the event, the President received the signed agreement, symbolizing a unified national and local commitment to enhancing public education infrastructure. The agreement stipulates that LGUs will manage the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms, adhering to national standards and overseeing procurement and implementation.
DepEd's role includes identifying priority schools, issuing standard classroom designs, and ensuring adherence to safety, accessibility, and quality standards through plan reviews and compliance checks. Both DepEd and LGUs will jointly handle funding, monitoring, and maintenance responsibilities, supported by regular reports and transparency measures to ensure accountability and timely completion of projects.
