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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace vows faster fund release to LGUs for classroom construction

Palace vows faster fund release to LGUs for classroom construction

Published Apr 10, 2026 12:08 pm  |  Updated Apr 10, 2026 01:53 pm
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto holds a meeting with Senator Bam Aquino to discuss education programs and the ongoing crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto holds a meeting with Senator Bam Aquino to discuss education programs and the ongoing crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
Malacañang has assured that it will focus on addressing the classroom backlog by ensuring on-time fund releases to local government units (LGUs).
In a meeting, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto assured Senator Bam Aquino of the timely and faster disbursement of funds to LGUs for classroom construction under the 2026 national budget.
Recto and Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, recently met to discuss education programs and the ongoing crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
"Sa pakikipag-pulong ni Senator Bam Aquino kay Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto noon nakaraang Linggo upang pag-usapan ang mga programa sa edukasyon at sa hinaharap na krisis ng ating bansa dahilan sa gyera sa Gitnang Silangan, tiniyak ni Executive Secretary Recto na tutukan ang classroom backlog sa pamamagitan ng on-time fund release at mas mabilis na pagbigay nito sa mga LGU (At a meeting between Senator Bam Aquino and Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto last Sunday to discuss education programs and the country’s looming crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, Executive Secretary Recto assured that the classroom backlog would be addressed through the on-time release of funds and their faster disbursement to local government units (LGUs)," Recto said.
Recto and Aquino also discussed the lawmaker’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which aims to speed up the construction of classrooms, address classroom shortages, and improve the quality of students’ learning.
The proposed measure also allows LGUs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record to build classrooms within their jurisdictions, in compliance with DepEd’s standards and guidelines.
At present, the classroom backlog is estimated to exceed 166,000.
Under the 2026 national budget, DepEd is given wide flexibility when it comes to the modalities for classroom construction, including partnerships with LGUs, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations with proven track records.
The Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1482 or the CAP Act on third and final reading via a 22-0 vote, with no negative votes and no abstentions.
Aside from addressing the backlog, the bill also prioritizes streamlining the classroom-building process and includes safeguards against corruption by instituting a price ceiling for classroom construction.
The construction of new classrooms is expected to boost employment and local economies, as it will create more than 100,000 new jobs across the country.
According to Recto, they also tackled a whole-of-government approach in responding to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East to safeguard the welfare and needs of affected Filipinos.

Related Tags

Ralph G. Recto Bam Aquino classroom backlog Philippines Classroom Acceleration Program Act
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