SENATOR Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the Department of Education’s partnership with local government units can speed up classroom construction and help reduce the country’s shortage of basic education facilities.
Gatchalian issued the statement after DepEd and provincial governments signed a memorandum of agreement for a nationwide classroom building program, a move he said aligns with provisions in the 2026 national budget that allow DepEd to tap multiple partners to deliver school buildings faster.
Under the 2026 national budget provisions cited by the senator, DepEd may enter into agreements with LGUs, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corps of Engineers to support classroom construction and related infrastructure work.
“Mahalagang hakbang ang pakikipagtulungan natin sa mga local government units upang makapagpatayo pa tayo ng mas maraming mga silid-aralan. Kung sabay-sabay na magpapatayo ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, mas marami tayong mapapakinabangang silid-aralan at unti-unti nating mapupunan ang kakulangan sa ating mga pasilidad,” Gatchalian said.
The senator noted that the 2026 national budget set aside P65.9 billion for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings, including technical-vocational laboratories.
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