Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV said he is confident that his proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, or Senate Bill No. 121, will help speed up the construction of classrooms in public schools and significantly reduce the backlog.

If enacted into law, SB No. 121, Aquino said, will authorize local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) to build classrooms in compliance with national standards and guidelines within their jurisdictions.

Under the measure, the construction of classrooms would no longer be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Let’s bypass the DPWH. We will give the funds to LGUs and NGOs that have a track record in schoolbuilding,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

“I believe this will hasten the construction of classrooms at an affordable price,” he said.

During inspections at Lakandula Elementary School and Dr. Adelaido C. Bernardo High School in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, Aquino saw firsthand the urgent need for additional classrooms, noting that some condemned facilities are still being used by students.

“We want to see these classrooms constructed in the next 3 to 5 years, and be able to close the classroom gap. The only way we can do this is if we can build these classrooms simultaneously,” he pointed out.

“If only one agency has the mandate of building classrooms, we will never finish,” he added.

Aquino said it is high time the government places its trust in capable NGOs and committed LGUs that are determined to uplift education in their respective communities.

“Let’s trust NGOs that have a good track record and LGUs who wish to see better classrooms and education within their jurisdiction,” he said.

Aquino also reiterated his call for lawmakers to reallocate a significant portion of the flood control budget in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to education.

He pointed out that billions of pesos are being poured into areas with no history of flooding.

“We want to see a more organized flood control fund. As far as we can tell, the P275 billion will be reduced, it will be focused on areas prone to flooding. Of what will be removed, we think it will be up to P100 billion, we want to put it into education,” he said.