SENATOR Bam Aquino has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program or CAP Act as a solution to the country’s classroom backlog.

Aquino, author of Senate Bill No. 121 or the CAP Act, said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cannot address the problem alone, as shown by its recent revelation that only 22 out of its 1,700 target classrooms for 2025 have been completed so far.

“Lahat tayo nagulat nung nalaman natin na bente dos lang ang classrooms na ginawa ng DPWH ngayong taon. Ang backlog natin 145,000 pataas kaya iyong 22 na paggawa ng DPWH, hindi po talaga iyan katanggap-tanggap,” said Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

While Senate Bill No. 121 has already been identified as one of the administration’s priority measures in the 20th Congress, Aquino said President Marcos should take the next step by certifying the bill as urgent to ensure its swift passage.

“Ang panawagan namin sa Classroom Acceleration Program Bill ay ibigay ito sa mga LGU. Natutuwa kami na sa araw na ito, sinang-ayunan tayo ng Presidente. We’re hoping na dahil nag-a-agree na po tayo dito, ise-certify po niya na urgent ang Classroom Acceleration Program para sabay-sabay po tayong gagawa ng mga classroom para sa ating mga kabataan,” he added.

If passed into law, Aquino said Senate Bill No. 121 will complement the Chief Executive’s directive to channel funds directly to local government units (LGUs) to help expedite the construction of much-needed classrooms.

The senator’s proposed measure aims to decentralize classroom construction by expanding the mandate beyond DPWH to include LGUs and non-government organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record.

Under the bill, LGUs and NGOs can build classrooms in compliance with the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines within their respective jurisdictions.

“Mahalaga po na ilagay na lang natin iyong responsibilidad ng paggawa ng classroom sa mga grupo at tao na kaya talagang gawin ito sa madaliang panahon at sa tamang presyo,” Aquino explained.

“Mga local government unit, mga NGO na may track record, sabay-sabay po iyan para ma-address natin iyong napakalaking problema po natin sa edukasyon,” he added.

During the Senate hearing on the DPWH budget, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon expressed full support for Aquino’s proposal, saying the agency is open to partnerships that will help speed up the construction of classrooms nationwide.

“We are in full support of this measure, especially now na dalawampu’t dalawa pa lang ang nagagawa ng departamento ngayong taon. Kailangan po talaga natin ang tulong,” Dizon said.

“At this rate, it’s virtually impossible na magawa ng DPWH itong kailangan nating mga classrooms,” he admitted.