THE DEPARTMENT of Education aims to build 599 classrooms for the Last Mile Schools Program this year.

“These schools with concrete walls, electricity and clean water are more than buildings. They represent hope for our learners, they are symbols that we care to bring education to the most challenged and remote places in the country,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

She said that the construction of 259 classrooms is expected to be completed in May 2022 while 340 others are targeted to be completed in August this year.

Education Facilities Division Chief Annabelle Pangan said that the classrooms and schools will soon host learners and teachers. These will have electricity, running water and new tables and chairs.

DepEd unveiled its first Last-Mile School in Eastern Visayas last February.

Patong National High School in Samar is one of the nine last-mile school sites which received two units of one storey-two classrooms equipped with a water system, solar panels and school furniture.