MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed relevant government agencies to partner with the private sector in accelerating the construction of public school classrooms in the Ilocos Region, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
During a meeting with the Regional Development Council held in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on Friday, the President emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to hasten the rollout of infrastructure projects, particularly in the education sector.
The PCO said Marcos underscored how partnering with private entities could streamline the implementation of development initiatives while reducing government spending.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has submitted a proposal for the construction of nearly 3,000 classrooms in the Ilocos Region over a five-year period from 2025 to 2030.
Marcos commended the DepEd’s efforts to improve literacy in the region, which has historically posted higher-than-average literacy rates. He also called for a faster implementation of classroom projects to avoid long delays in addressing the region’s educational infrastructure needs.
As part of its 2026 budget proposal, the DepEd is seeking to recruit additional school principals, administrative officers, school counselor associates, and project development officers in the region.
The department is also working to fill vacant teaching positions and continues to create and deploy new teaching items annually.
