Laguna mayors commend Marcos administration, DepEd for landmark classroom construction deal

 Laguna mayors commend Marcos administration, DepEd for landmark classroom construction deal

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — Several city mayors in the province of Laguna have expressed their gratitude to the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Education (DepEd) for spearheading the landmark Nationwide Classroom Building Program, which seeks to urgently address the country’s classroom shortage.

On Monday, February 23, President Marcos Jr., along with DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, led the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement in Malacañan Palace and finalized the partnership between the national government and local government units to fast-track the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of classrooms nationwide.

Under the agreement, city governments will lead the procurement, construction, and project management to ensure faster and more responsive implementation, while DepEd will set building standards and validate compliance prior to final turnover and payment.

“Tiyakin natin hindi maaantala ang mga proyekto. Tiyakin natin de-kalidad ang ating maitatayo na silid-aralan. Tiyakin din natin na ang bawat sentimo na pinaghirapan ng ating mga kababayan ay gagamitin sa tama,” the President said during the signing ceremony.

Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal underscored the positive impact of the partnership in strengthening school infrastructure nationwide and in ensuring that classrooms are constructed in a safe, orderly, and modern manner.

“Mas maraming silid-aralan, mas matibay na kinabukasan para sa bawat batang Pilipino. Kapag nagkakaisa ang pamahalaan, umaangat ang edukasyon…Patunay lamang ito na kapag nagtutulungan ang pambansang pamahalaan at mga lokal na pamahalaan, mas nagiging matibay ang pundasyon ng edukasyon para sa kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino,” Rizal said in a social media post.

Biñan City Mayor Angelo Alonte extended his full support for the agreement, saying that the new partnership will bring significant advantages to the city.

“Sa ilalim ng 2026 General Appropriations Act, pinatatag ang DepEd-LGU partnership upang matugunan ang kakulangan sa classrooms at matiyak na may ligtas, maayos, at sapat na pasilidad ang bawat mag-aaral. Bilang bahagi nito, buong suporta ang ibinibigay natin upang masiguro na ang mga kabataang Biñanense ay magkakaroon ng mas maayos na kapaligiran para sa kanilang pag-aaral at kinabukasan.”

San Pedro City Mayor Art Joseph Francis Mercado also committed to working closely with the national government in implementing the program, noting that investments in better classrooms are likewise investments in the future of the next generation.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Department of Education and to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for including cities like ours in this important program. Malaking bagay po ito para sa ating mga estudyante, guro, at mga magulang. I remain committed to working hand in hand with our national government to ensure that these commitments translate into real, tangible improvements on the ground. Hindi lang ito pirma sa papel, ito ay pangako para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” Mercado added.

For some city governments, the landmark program of the Marcos administration complements their respective local initiatives and serves as a significant boost in meeting their development goals and objectives.

Cabuyao City Mayor Dennis Hain highlighted that the city government’s I-HELP Program, which serves as the city’s blueprint for inclusive development, will directly benefit from the initiative as it prioritizes industry, health, education, livelihood, and public protection.

“Walang estudyante dapat na naiiwan dahil sa kakulangan ng classrooms at school facilities. Ang gobyerno sa local at national ay dapat na nakaantabay sa bawat magaaral na Filipino. Kasama po iyan sa priorities ng aming I-HELP Program of Governance, mahal naming PBBM.”

The San Pablo City Information Office, meanwhile, said in a statement on behalf of Mayor Arcadio Gapangada Jr.: “Inaasahang magbubunga ang nasabing programa ng mas maayos, ligtas, at sapat na mga pasilidad na makatutulong sa higit pang pagpapabuti ng kalidad ng edukasyon para sa mga mag-aaral at guro sa San Pablo City, alinsunod sa TEK (Trabaho, Edukasyon at Kalusugan) Program ng alkalde.”

According to DepEd data as of January 2026, there is a shortage of 144,658 classroom units nationwide. The DepEd–LGU partnership initiative is backed by the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which allocates P85.4 billion for Basic Education Facilities to fund the multi-tranche construction of classrooms under the agreement. (CH/PIA-Laguna)