SOME  PHP105.7 billion has been allocated for the public-private partnership for school infrastructure project phase III (PSIP III) by the Economy and Development Council (ED Council), the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said Friday.

DEPDev, in a news release, said the ED Council, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved the funding intended to accelerate inclusive growth and investments in human capital during its meeting on Thursday.

It said PSIP III, which is under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd), aims to construct around 16,459 new classrooms in 1,095 existing schools in Luzon from March 2027 to March 2028, benefitting at least 800,000 learners per year.

Under the program, a solicited PPP modality and a Build-Lease-and-Transfer contractual arrangement will be in place to address delays experienced in conventional procurement.

It is aimed to complement DepEd’s bid to construct about 25,000 classrooms under this year’s national budget.

“Addressing critical infrastructure gaps in education is central to sustaining growth and achieving our development targets. By investing in classrooms that strengthen learning outcomes, we are laying the foundation for higher productivity, stronger human capital, and inclusive growth,” DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice-Chair Arsenio Balisacan said. (PNA)