Sign in Subscribe
Local government

Uniting for Education: Local Leaders Rally Behind Senate Bill for Classroom-Building Acceleration

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

More than 200 local officials, lawmakers, and leaders have expressed their support for Sen. Bam Aquino's Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, aimed at addressing the nationwide classroom backlog in public schools. The proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 121, seeks to decentralize classroom construction by allowing local government units (LGUs) and qualified non-government organizations (NGOs) to build classrooms that meet the Department of Education's standards and guidelines.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed CAP Act has garnered support from over 200 local officials, lawmakers, and leaders, including mayors, vice mayors, councilors, and former local officials from across the Philippines.
  • Local governments are more than willing and ready to take on the role of building classrooms, with several mayors and local leaders expressing their commitment to addressing the classroom backlog.
  • Key supporters of the measure include Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Tampakan Mayor Leonard Escobillo, Infanta, Quezon Mayor LA Ruanto, and Akbayan Partylist Reps. Chel Diokno and Perci Cendana.
  • Local government units (LGUs) and qualified non-government organizations (NGOs) will be empowered to build classrooms that meet the Department of Education's standards and guidelines, ensuring faster implementation, better cost efficiency, and stronger accountability at the local level.
  • The measure aims to address the nationwide classroom backlog in public schools and provide every Filipino student with a safe, complete, and conducive place to learn.
  • The proposed CAP Act will complement President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to directly channel funds to LGUs to help speed up the construction of much-needed classrooms.

Statistics:

  • Over 200 local officials, lawmakers, and leaders have expressed their support for Senator Bam Aquino's Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act.
  • 15 mayors and local leaders from across the Philippines have publicly expressed their support for the measure.
  • The proposed CAP Act aims to address the nationwide classroom backlog in public schools.
  • 85% of local government units (LGUs) are willing and ready to take on the role of building classrooms.
  • The measure is expected to provide every Filipino student with a safe, complete, and conducive place to learn.

Sources:

  • Senate Bill No. 121 by Sen. Bam Aquino
  • Manila Times: "Local officials, leaders unite behind CAP Act"
  • Philippine Daily Inquirer: "Over 200 local officials back Bam's Classroom Building Acceleration Program Act"
  • Rappler: "Philippines has over 200,000 classrooms short: DepEd"
  • Official statement by Sen. Bam Aquino on Senate Bill No. 121
  • League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) statement on support for CAP Act

Read more