The Ilocos Norte provincial government is partnering with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure adequate classroom and building facilities for more than 72,000 learners from Kinder to Grade 12.

The provincial board resolution authorized Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos to sign a supplemental memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DepEd, represented by Assistant Secretary Aurelio Paulo Bartolome or other authorized personnel, for school building projects under the Basic Education Facilities Program funded by the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

Provincial Board member Marlon Sales, in his capacity as Committee on Public Works and Highways chairperson, also confirmed on Tuesday that the provincial government has secured an initial PHP50 million, in addition to another PHP100 million to be released once the MOA is finalized.

“This means more schools province-wide will be improved,” Sales said in a media interview.

Among these are at least five classrooms at San Antonio Elementary School in Sarrat that were destroyed in a fire on July 2, 2025.

The program is an annual DepEd budget for school building improvements, including constructing classrooms, replacing old buildings, providing furniture, repairing classrooms and heritage buildings, and installing water, sanitation, and electrification.

This year, local government units (LGUs) with counterpart funding have been tasked with helping expedite the construction of needed school facilities within their respective jurisdictions.

The MOA provides that DepEd, in coordination with the LGU, shall identify and select priority schools using the updated Instructional Room Analysis within the Basic Education Information System.

The DepEd and LGU partnership to address the classroom shortage nationwide aligns with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the timely completion of projects and the proper use of public funds through collaborative efforts. (PNA)