The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are stepping up efforts to address the nationwide classroom shortage.

Representatives from the DPWH and the DepEd gathered on Tuesday at Clark Freeport in this province to discuss various issues and concerns related to the implementation of the national government’s School Building Program (SBP).

The inter-agency coordination meeting brought together various DPWH and DepEd officials from the Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions 1, 2, and 3 headed by DPWH Undersecretary for Operations of Convergence Projects Antonio Molano Jr. and Annabelle Pangan, chief of DepEd’s Education Facilities Division.

During the meeting, participants from each region shared their insights and collaborated on ways to improve the implementation of SBP.

Molano expressed his confidence in the progress that will be made through the collaboration between the two agencies.

“I am grateful for your valuable insights and contributions, and I am confident that our collaboration will bring significant and meaningful progress towards our shared goals,” he said in his message.

Meanwhile, DPWH Region III Assistant Director Denise Maria Ayag thanked the representatives from various DPWH and DepEd offices in Northern and Central Luzon for participating in the meeting aimed at addressing issues related to educational infrastructure.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, in her Basic Education Report 2023, said the lack of school infrastructure and resources remains one of the biggest challenges the basic education sector faces.

In response to this, she launched the MATATAG Agenda which includes the establishment of the School Infrastructure and Facilities strand, headed by Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, entirely devoted to addressing long-standing issues on education facilities and infrastructure.

“Together, let us work harder to build more schools and classrooms for our Filipino children and youth so they can learn, develop, and realize their full potential,” she earlier said in a statement. (PNA)