Bam Aquino urges PBBM to certify CAP bill as urgent
At A Glance
- Sen. Bam Aquino said it is clear that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cannot address the problem on classroom backlog alone, as shown by its recent revelation that only 22 out of its 1,700 target classrooms for 2025 have been completed so far.
Malacañang should certify as urgent the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) as urgent if it wants concrete solutions to the country’s classroom backlog, Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV said.
Aquino said it is clear that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cannot address the problem alone, as shown by its recent revelation that only 22 out of its 1,700 target classrooms for 2025 have been completed so far.
“All of us were surprised when we learned that the DPWH was only able to build 22 classrooms this year,” said Aquino, author of Senate Bill No. 121, or the CAP Act.
“Our backlog is at 145,000 and higher, that’s why the 22 classrooms that the DPWH was able to build aren’t acceptable,” said Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
While the bill has already been identified as one of the administration’s priority measures in the 20th Congress, the senator said President Marcos should take the next step by certifying the bill as urgent to ensure its swift passage.
“Our call is to give the Classroom Acceleration Program Bill to the local government units (LGUs). I’m glad that the President agrees to it,” he said.
“Since he agreed to it, we’re hoping that he will certify the CAP bill as urgent so we can build more classrooms for our youth,” the lawmaker stressed.
If enacted into law, Aquino said the CAP bill will complement the Chief Executive’s directive to channel funds directly to LGUs to help expedite the construction of much-needed classrooms.
This will help decentralize classroom construction by expanding the mandate beyond DPWH to include LGUs and non-government organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record.
Under the bill, LGUs and NGOs can then build classrooms in compliance with the Department of Education's (DepEd) standards and guidelines within their jurisdictions.
Aquino explained it is essential to give the responsibility of building classrooms to groups and people who are capable of doing it faster and at the correct price.
“All LGUs, NGOs that have the track record should simultaneously build these classrooms so we can address the huge problem faced by the education sector,” he said.