SENATOR Christopher ‘Bong’ Go highlighted the urgency of addressing long-standing education gaps as he welcomed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 1482, or the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP Act), a measure he co-authored and co-sponsored.

Go said the bill seeks to respond to the persistent shortage of classrooms nationwide by institutionalizing a Classroom-Building Acceleration Program under the Department of Education.

The measure aims to establish a more coordinated and efficient framework for constructing school buildings, particularly in areas suffering from severe classroom backlogs.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, Go emphasized that the state of school facilities has a direct impact on students’ learning outcomes and overall well-being, especially in public schools where overcrowding remains a major concern.

“It is important to ensure that children have decent, safe, and well-maintained classrooms. Students cannot learn properly if they are cramped, exposed to heat, or placed in unsafe learning environments every day,” Go said.

Under Senate Bill No. 1482, mechanisms are put in place to fast-track classroom construction by allowing qualified local government units and accredited partners to undertake building projects in accordance with DepEd standards.