Manila: The national government, through the Department of Education (DepEd), will fund the construction of 16 classrooms worth PHP52.5 million for senior high school students at Progreso Village National High School in this highly urbanized city. In a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Greg Gasataya said he signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Secretary Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara at the DepEd central office in Pasig City on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, this is the first time the national government will partner with the local government unit (LGU) for the project implementation. The DepEd will download the funds to the LGU for the construction. Mayor Gasataya expressed appreciation for the efforts of the national government. He stated that the Nationwide Classroom Construction Program aligns with the priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to empower LGUs and strengthen the country's education sector.
Located within the city's relocation site in Barangay Vista Alegre, the Progreso Village National High School serves more than 1,000 learners. The proposed 16-classroom building is expected to accommodate 350 to 500 additional students, helping address classroom shortages and improve access to education. For several years, students have attended senior high school in other barangays due to the lack of classrooms. The MOA aims to make education more accessible and reduce transportation costs for families.
Bacolod City Schools Division Superintendent Dennis Develos noted that the additional classrooms are a timely intervention for incoming Grade 11 students. He stated that the new classrooms will expand the school's capacity and help reduce student dropout rates. Under the agreement for the Nationwide Classroom Building Program, LGUs are responsible for construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms, including procurement and on-site implementation, following national standards.
The DepEd identifies priority schools, issues standard classroom designs and technical specifications, and oversees the process through plan review, validation of completed works, and compliance checks on safety, accessibility, and quality standards.
