DepEd eyes more direct role for LGUs in constructing classrooms

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Wednesday, September 2, that it was studying a historic policy shift that would allow local government units (LGUs) to directly participate in classroom construction—marking a potential departure from the longstanding reliance on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the move aims to speed up the delivery of school infrastructure and address the country’s persistent classroom backlog.

“Every classroom we add brings hope and opportunity to learners. But delays in construction mean children wait longer than they should,” Angara said. “That is why we are looking for ways to build faster and smarter, with partners who are closest to the ground,” he added.

Currently, most school building projects are handled by the DPWH, but bottlenecks in implementation have slowed progress.