SULTAN Kudarat 2nd District Rep. Bella Vanessa Suansing is pushing for a resolution directing the appropriate House committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the hazards posed by existing structural designs of classrooms on Filipino children.

In her House Resolution 527, Suansing particularly seeks an inquiry into hazards caused by the effects of climate change, in pursuit of updated building plans for the construction of climate-resilient and climate-safe classrooms, and for the upgrading, retrofitting, and rehabilitation of damaged or dilapidated classrooms.

Suansing, in her resolution, said the Philippine education sector continues to suffer from the long-term impacts of natural calamities that have damaged school infrastructure and worsened classroom shortages.

The Department of Education estimates the classroom shortage at 165,000 for School Year 2025–2026.

In 2024 alone, she said 1,855 schools sustained damage from natural hazards, requiring P6.6 billion for repairs and P5.3 billion for the replacement of 1,864 classrooms.

She further stressed that the ongoing classroom crisis amplifies the impacts of climate change on Filipino children, 96% of whom experience multiple and overlapping climate-change hazards.

The solon reminded that ensuring climate-resilient classrooms will help protect every child’s right to safe, continuous, and quality education.