SENATOR Loren Legarda expressed support for the Department of Education’s move to explore innovative solutions to address the classroom backlog.

She commended Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara for pursuing forward-looking measures such as public-private partnerships, stronger involvement of local government units, and other mechanisms to accelerate school infrastructure development.

Legarda also pressed Angara on whether classroom construction would remain under the Department of Public Works and Highways or whether DepEd would tap multiple stakeholders for implementation.

Earlier, Legarda raised concern over the country’s massive classroom shortage, which she estimated at 165,000 nationwide.

She emphasized that the problem should not be seen as “mere statistics,” noting its real impact on learners through overcrowding, shifting class schedules, and reduced learning opportunities.

Angara, meanwhile, affirmed that DepEd would adopt a multi-sectoral approach, signaling a shift toward more collaborative and flexible strategies to resolve the long-standing shortage.