Senator Bam Aquino urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to fast-track repairs and construction of classrooms damaged by recent typhoons and earthquakes, saying safe learning spaces are crucial for students.
DepEd reported around 5,000 schools hit by quakes in Central Visayas, Davao Region, and Negros Island Region, while over 5,000 classrooms nationwide were damaged by Typhoons Tino and Uwan.
Aquino, chair of the Senate basic education panel, also pushed for tighter coordination between DepEd and LGUs to speed up rebuilding.
During a visit to Infanta, Quezon, he noted over 1,000 damaged classrooms in the town and a 3,400-classroom deficit province-wide.
He said the Senate already raised the classroom construction budget from P13B to P68B, enough to build up to 30,000 new classrooms, stressing the need to ensure funds are used properly.
Aquino also highlighted his Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, aimed at closing the 165,000-classroom gap by letting local government units—not Department of Public Works and Highways—handle most construction. Senate Bill No. 1482 has backing from 22 senators and around 800 local officials.IMT
