Dagupan City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed relevant agencies to engage with the private sector to expedite the construction of public school classrooms in the Ilocos Region. This initiative aims to accelerate the development process through public-private partnerships (PPPs), as emphasized during a meeting with the Regional Development Council in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos highlighted that collaborating with the private sector can enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of public infrastructure and development projects. He asserted that such partnerships should be leveraged to accelerate the construction of classrooms in the region.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has outlined plans to construct nearly 3,000 classrooms in the Ilocos Region between 2025 and 2030. Marcos acknowledged the efforts of DepEd in enhancing the literacy rate in the region, which consistently surpasses the national average.
During the meeting, President Marcos expressed his satisfaction with the DepEd's initiatives but urged for a faster timeline. "I'm glad to see the intervention at DepEd, the construction of the classrooms. I think we need to accelerate that. I do not think we want to wait until 2030 for all of those classrooms," he stated.
In line with its budget plan for 2026, the DepEd has also proposed the hiring of additional school principals, administrative officers, school counselor associates, and project development officers for the region. The department is actively working to fill vacant teaching positions and continues the annual creation and deployment of teaching items.
