Malolos: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday emphasized the urgent need to clean and improve public school bathrooms and ensure reliable water supply, calling it a basic requirement for students' health and safety. Speaking to the media after visiting schools in Malolos and San Miguel, Bulacan, as part of "Brigada Eskwela 2025", Marcos said the condition of school facilities, particularly bathrooms, must be addressed ahead of the school reopening next week.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos noted that one of the key observations during his visits was the poor state of school bathrooms. He stressed the necessity of cleaning and enhancing these facilities, stating, 'We really need to clean and improve the bathrooms.' The President also highlighted a significant issue regarding the lack of water supply in the schools visited, despite payments being made for these services. This, he emphasized, requires urgent attention to ensure that schools have adequate water access.

Marcos pointed out that the health of approximately 27 million students expected to return to school next week could be compromised by unsanitary conditions. He announced improvements in preparation efforts, including the hiring of 20,000 new teachers to alleviate the administrative load on existing educators.

Further, Marcos drew attention to the enduring use of 'Marcos-type school buildings', originally intended for 20 to 30 years of service. These structures, introduced during his late father's administration in the late 1960s, were constructed using light steel frames and concrete materials. While he acknowledged their continued use as beneficial, he underscored the need for rehabilitation of many such buildings.

Despite these challenges, President Marcos commended the collaborative efforts among various agencies involved in the "Brigada Eskwela" initiative, aimed at improving educational facilities and resources across the nation.