PBBM eyes collab with private sector to hasten classroom construction

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

BACK TO SCHOOL. A two-storey four-classroom building worth PHP14.9 million at Catbangen Elementary School in San Fernando City, La Union, The construction of the building started on July 24, 2023 and was completed on March 21 this year funded under the 2023 Basic Education Facilities Fund. (Photo courtesy of DPWH Ilocos Region)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed concerned agencies to collaborate with the private sector to fast-track the establishment of more public school classrooms in Ilocos Region, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Saturday.

Marcos stressed the need to pursue public-private partnerships (PPPs) to speed up the construction of additional classrooms in the region during a meeting with the Regional Development Council in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on Friday.

“President Marcos said that public infrastructure and development projects can be implemented faster and at lower government costs by entering into contracts with the private sector through PPP,” the PCO said in a statement.

“The Chief Executive said such arrangements should be used again to accelerate the construction of classrooms.”

The Department of Education (DepEd) has proposed the construction of nearly 3,000 classrooms in the Ilocos Region from 2025 to 2030.

Marcos acknowledged the DepEd’s efforts to boost literacy rate in the Ilocos Region, which is traditionally higher than the national average.

“I’m glad to see the intervention at DepEd, the construction of the classrooms. I think we need to accelerate that. I do not think we want to wait until 2030 for all of those classrooms,” Marcos said during the meeting.

Under its budget plan for 2026, the DepEd proposed the hiring of more school principals, administrative officers, school counselor associates and project development officers for the region.

The DepEd is also filling up vacant teaching positions in the region, while carrying out the annual creation and deployment of teaching items.