MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to prioritize the repair and construction of classrooms damaged by recent typhoons and earthquakes to ensure safe and continuous learning for students.

The DepEd reported that around 5,000 schools were affected by recent earthquakes, particularly in Central Visayas, Davao Region, and the Negros Island Region, while more than 5,000 classrooms sustained damages from Typhoons Tino and Uwan nationwide.

“Kailangang agarang maisaayos ang ating silid-aralan para ligtas na maipagpatuloy ng ating mga estudyante ang kanilang pag-aaral,” Aquino said, stressing that schools in heavily damaged areas must be prioritized.

Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, also urged DepEd to coordinate closely with local government units (LGUs) to accelerate repairs and construction. “Mahalaga ang pagtutulungan ng DepEd at mga lokal na pamahalaan para mapabilis ang pagkukumpuni ng mga paaralan at matiyak na maayos, ligtas, at matibay ang mga silid na babalikan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” he said.

During his recent visit to the 1st Infanta Education Summit and an inspection of damaged classrooms at Binulasan Integrated School in Infanta, Quezon, Aquino noted that around 1,000 classrooms were damaged in the town alone, while the entire province still faces a shortage of approximately 3,400 classrooms.

The senator highlighted that the Senate recently approved an increase in the budget for classroom construction—from P13 billion to P68 billion—enough to build 26,000 to 30,000 classrooms. “Ang susi na lang po dito: masigurado natin na ang perang iyan, hindi mapunta kung saan-saan. Mapunta po sa mga lugar na makakagawa ng classroom nang mabilis at sa tamang presyo,” he said.

Aquino also pushed his Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, designed to address the 165,000-classroom backlog in public schools and enhance transparency and accountability in construction. “Unang-una, popondohan natin ang paggawa ng classroom. Pangalawa, hindi na po DPWH ang gagawa ng karamihan ng classroom. Ang gagawa po nito, mga LGU na. Ibig sabihin niyan, iyong pera na nakalaan sa national, diretso po iyan sa LGU,” he explained.

“Iyan po, gagamitin ng mga mayor kasama ng local school boards para gumawa ng classroom agad-agad at sabay-sabay. Kung isang ahensiya lang ang gagawa ng classroom sa ating bansa, siguro talaga hindi natin matatapos iyan. Pero kung ang bawat mayor, bawat governor, bawat lugar sabay-sabay gumagawa at napopondohan ng national government, may tsansa tayong masara ang classroom gap,” Aquino added.

The measure, Senate Bill 1482, has strong backing from 22 senators, including co-sponsors Kiko Pangilinan, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Robin Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Erwin Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Mark Villar, and Jinggoy Estrada. Co-authors include Senators Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, Raffy Tulfo, Legarda, Villanueva, Estrada, and Gatchalian.

Aquino’s proposal has also received support from 800 local officials, including governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, board members, and other leaders.