THE FULLY air-conditioned public school building in San Pedro City, Laguna has officially opened its doors to learners and teachers—an achievement officials hail as a milestone in the push to modernize public school facilities.

According to the Department of Education, the new four-storey, 12-classroom building at Pacita 2 Elementary School is the first fully air-conditioned school building in the Schools Division of San Pedro.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that numerous studies show learners perform better in comfortable and conducive learning environments, underscoring the importance of modern and well-designed classrooms.

“May mga scientific study na mas komportable ang mga learning environment, mas mataas ang score ng mga bata,” Angara said. “Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa modernized schools dito.”

“Pangitain po ito na we are doing the right thing, we are on the right track,” he added, noting that the development reflects the direction DepEd intends to pursue nationwide.

Angara also highlighted DepEd’s broader efforts to address the nationwide classroom backlog and improve resource delivery, stressing that the agency continues to adopt faster modes of construction—including leasing arrangements and partnerships with LGUs and the private sector—to help augment government resources.

The Secretary expressed hope that Congress will continue supporting basic education by sustaining increased allocations for school infrastructure projects.