President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reminded local government units (LGUs) to uphold transparency and accountability in procurement as they take on a bigger role in building classrooms, which remain under national government oversight.
The President recently led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and LGUs to fast-track classroom construction nationwide and address the country’s persistent shortage of learning spaces.
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the reminder serves as a warning against irregularities even if LGUs have budget and a “say” in procurement decisions.
She stressed that the program is a joint initiative of DepEd and LGUs, with continued oversight from the President to ensure clean and speedy implementation.
Marcos Jr. said giving LGUs a greater role will streamline processes and reduce delays. The government aims to build about 4,000 new classrooms under the first tranche of the agreement.
As of December 2025, the country faces a shortage of 145,000 classrooms. The DepEd-LGU partnership is backed by the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which earmarked P85.39 billion for Basic Education Facilities.IMT
