MANILA – More than 200 local officials, lawmakers, and civic leaders have expressed strong support for the immediate passage of Senator Bam Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which seeks to address the country’s persistent classroom shortage by empowering local government units (LGUs) and qualified non-government organizations (NGOs) to build school facilities.

Authored by Aquino under Senate Bill No. 121, the measure aims to decentralize classroom construction by authorizing not only the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but also LGUs and NGOs with proven track records in school-building projects to construct classrooms in compliance with Department of Education (DepEd) standards and guidelines.

Among those backing the measure are Echague Mayor Inno Dy, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Tampakan Mayor Leonard Escobillo, Infanta, Quezon Mayor LA Ruanto, Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro, and Akbayan Party-list Representatives Chel Diokno and Perci Cendana. They were joined by vice governors, vice mayors, councilors, board members, and former local officials from across the country.

Mayor Belmonte said the Quezon City government stands with Aquino’s initiative to speed up classroom construction, emphasizing that education infrastructure is key to ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment.

“Kaisa ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Quezon sa hangarin ni Senador Bam Aquino na mapabilis ang pagtatayo ng mga silid-aralan sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa pamamagitan ng Classroom-Building Acceleration Program,” she said.
“Patuloy nating tinutugunan ang pangangailangan sa mga silid-aralan sa Quezon City, at tiwala akong makatutulong ang programang ito upang mapabilis pa ang mga proyekto at matiyak na bawat bata ay may maayos at ligtas na espasyo para sa pagkatuto,” she added.

Mayor Escobillo, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)–South Cotabato and vice president for the Mindanao cluster, said local governments are ready to take on a greater role in addressing the classroom backlog.

Mayor Teodoro echoed this view, saying that devolving classroom construction to LGUs would ensure faster implementation, better cost efficiency, and stronger accountability.

“Local governments are ready to build and complete more classrooms. We join the call of PBBM and Sen. Bam Aquino to devolve classroom construction to LGUs,” she said.

For his part, Mayor Ruanto said the measure represents an investment in the future of Filipino learners, not just an infrastructure initiative.

“Ang pagbibigay-kapangyarihan sa DepEd, LGUs, at NGOs na umaksyon at itayo ang mahahalagang espasyong ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa imprastraktura. Ito ay tungkol sa pamumuhunan sa mas magandang kinabukasan para sa bawat batang Pilipino,” Ruanto said.

Lawmakers Chel Diokno and Perci Cendana likewise backed Aquino’s proposal, urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent to ensure that every Filipino student has access to safe and conducive learning spaces.

“The Administration should prioritize the welfare of our youth and certify this proposed measure as urgent,” Diokno said.
“We need the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act championed by Sen. Bam Aquino upang pabilisin ang pagpapatayo ng mga classrooms,” Cendana added.

Leaders and members of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership and the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, led by Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, also joined the call, saying the CAP Act is vital to addressing the education infrastructure crisis.

“The nation faces a significant, crisis-level shortage of classrooms and learning spaces, directly impacting the quality of education for millions of Filipino children. This legislative measure is crucial for immediately addressing this gap,” the groups said.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, earlier urged President Marcos to certify the measure as urgent to accelerate the elimination of the country’s classroom backlog.

If enacted, the bill will complement the President’s directive to channel funds directly to LGUs to speed up school construction. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has also expressed full support, saying the DPWH is open to partnerships that will help accelerate classroom building nationwide.