THE DEPARTMENT of Education and local government units have formalized their partnership to fast-track the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of classrooms nationwide.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. led the landmark partnership between DepEd and the LGUs.

The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement marks the second batch of partnerships under the administration’s Nationwide Classroom Building Program, which seeks to urgently address the country’s classroom shortage, currently estimated at 144,758 units as of January 2026.

“We cannot wait for decades, years, to give every student a safe and conducive classroom for effective learning,” Marcos said.

“Kapag kulang ang classroom, masikip ang klase. Nahahati sa ilang shift ang pasok ng mga estudyante. Mas nahihirapang matuto ang mga mag-aaral, mas nabibigatang magturo ang mga guro, at mas nangangamba ang mga magulang.”

Under the agreement, city governments will oversee procurement, construction, and project management to ensure faster and more responsive implementation on the ground.

Meanwhile, DepEd will set standards and validate compliance before final turnover and payment.

“Tiyakin natin hindi maaantala ang mga proyekto. Tiyakin natin de-kalidad ang ating maitatayo na silid-aralan. Tiyakin din natin na ang bawat sentimo na pinaghirapan ng ating mga kababayan ay gagamitin sa tama.”