Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso added his voice to the growing clamor for the passage of Senator Bam Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which seeks to address the country’s classroom backlog.
In a statement, Domagoso agreed that Aquino’s proposal to involve government units (LGUs) in the construction of classrooms will hasten efforts to reduce the classroom shortage in public schools across the country.
“Ang mga local official ay direktang pinapanagot ng mga mamamayan sa kanilang mga desisyon, aksyon o kapabayaan.”
“Ang mga local official ay direktang pinapanagot ng mga mamamayan sa kanilang mga desisyon, aksyon o kapabayaan. Kaya naman mabilis ang kanilang mga pagkilos,” the mayor said.
“Tama si Sen. Bam Aquino na mas mapapabilis ang konstruksyon ng mga paaralan kung ang mga local government mismo ang katuwang ng national government dito,” he added.
More than 300 local officials–including governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, board members, and other leaders–have already expressed their strong backing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 121.
Among those who expressed support were League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) National President and Echague Mayor Inno Dy, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Trenas, Tampakan Mayor Leonard Escobillo, Infanta, Quezon Mayor LA Ruanto, and Akbayan Partylist Reps. Chel Diokno and Perci Cendana.
They all emphasized that the veteran legislator’s measure, once passed into law, will ensure faster implementation, stronger accountability, and greater transparency in addressing the classroom backlog.
The seasoned lawmaker’s proposed measure seeks to decentralize classroom construction by expanding the mandate beyond the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to include LGUs and non-government organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record in classroom building.
Under the bill, LGUs and NGOs will be authorized to build classrooms in compliance with the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines within their respective jurisdictions.
He earlier urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify Senate Bill No. 121 as urgent, saying it will complement the Chief Executive’s directive to directly channel funds to LGUs to help expedite the construction of much-needed classrooms.
“Ise-certify po niya na urgent ang Classroom Acceleration Program para sabay-sabay po tayong gagawa ng mga classroom para sa ating mga Kabataan.”
“Ang panawagan namin sa Classroom Acceleration Program Bill ay ibigay ito sa mga LGU. Natutuwa kami na sa araw na ito, sinang-ayunan tayo ng Presidente. We’re hoping na dahil nag-a-agree na po tayo dito, ise-certify po niya na urgent ang Classroom Acceleration Program para sabay-sabay po tayong gagawa ng mga classroom para sa ating mga kabataan,” Aquino said.
“Mga local government unit, mga NGO na may track record, sabay-sabay po iyan para ma-address natin iyong napakalaking problema po natin sa edukasyon,” he added.
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has already expressed full support for Aquino’s proposal, saying the agency is open to partnerships that will help speed up the construction of much-needed classrooms nationwide.
“We are in full support of this measure, especially now na dalawampu’t dalawa pa lang ang nagagawa ng departamento ngayong taon. Kailangan po talaga natin ang tulong,” said Dizon, who revealed during the agency’s budget hearing that only 22 out of its 1,700 target classrooms for 2025 have been completed so far.
