DepEd taps 79 LGUs to solve classroom gap

MANILA, Philippines — Seventy-nine local government units (LGUs) have started the procurement processes for the construction of classrooms to address the shortage pegged by the Department of Education at 144,000.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency has strengthened institutional oversight and streamlined monitoring to ensure that local projects comply with national timelines, digital validation and strict fiscal standards.

“This collaboration with LGUs will go a long way in speeding up the construction of facilities. The DepEd cannot solve the classroom shortage alone. The help of LGUs is important to ensure that our students have safe and comfortable classrooms,” Angara said.

He said the initial collaborations with 79 LGUs represent P9.3 billion in investment, targeting the construction of 2,632 classrooms across more than 600 school sites nationwide.

“We have set these rules not to be burdensome or to prolong the process, but to expedite the release of funds while ensuring that our projects are clean, of quality and free of anomalies,” Angara said.

Angara said LGUs are now required to utilize real-time digital validation and monitoring system designed to track construction progress and eliminate delays.