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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Economy devider Marcos clears ₱105.7-billion school PPP, backs major road and bridge projects

Marcos clears ₱105.7-billion school PPP, backs major road and bridge projects

Published Jan 9, 2026 05:14 pm
The government has approved the ₱105.7-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the School Infrastructure Project Phase III (PSIP III) to close classroom gaps and upgrade learning facilities, alongside major projects to improve market and transport links.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said in a statement on Friday, Jan. 9, that the Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved the landmark project last Thursday, Jan. 8 as part of a broader effort to enhance education infrastructure and strengthen key economic linkages across the country.
“These initiatives highlight the administration’s commitment to accelerating inclusive growth and investing in human capital development under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028,” DEPDev said.
DEPDev highlighted that the Department of Education (DepEd) is spearheading PSIP III to ease classroom shortages and improve learning conditions, as many schools face overcrowded classes of up to 50 students.
It added that PSIP III will use a build-lease-and-transfer PPP to speed up delivery and complement the DepEd’s plan to build nearly 25,000 classrooms, now in partnership with local government units (LGUs).
“With an estimated project cost of ₱105.69 billion, PSIP III will deliver 16,459 new classrooms across 1,095 existing schools in Luzon from March 2027 to March 2028, benefiting at least 800,000 learners per year from improved facilities,” DEPDev said.
“Addressing critical infrastructure gaps in education is central to sustaining growth and achieving our development targets. By investing in classrooms that strengthen learning outcomes, we are laying the foundation for higher productivity, stronger human capital, and inclusive growth,” said DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice Chair Arsenio M. Balisacan.
In addition to PSIP III, the ED Council approved the ₱145.56-billion Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay highway, a 64.7-kilometer (km), four-lane road with 47 bridges. The project is expected to cut travel time between the two cities from 6.5 hours to 3.5 hours, improving connectivity in Mindanao.
It also approved the ₱28.24-billion Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka (PBBM) Bridges Project, which aims to enhance market access and rural connectivity for agrarian reform communities, benefiting at least 350,000 households.
Meanwhile, the ₱27.69-billion Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program (FMBDP) was extended to fiscal years (FYs) 2026-2029. The program will construct 300 modular steel bridges across 15 regions, enabling farmers, fisherfolk, and rural residents to reach markets more easily, raise incomes, and reduce poverty.
“The Marcos Jr. administration recognizes the crucial role of rural infrastructure in stimulating economic growth. These projects go beyond engineering solutions—they are strategic interventions to transform subsistence farming and fishing into competitive, profitable enterprises,” Balisacan said.
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