The Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday it is exploring more options to advance classroom decongestion efforts in public schools nationwide.
This came after DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara joined the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly 2026 on Monday, where he reiterated his call for a closer collaboration between the national and local governments to expedite resolutions for classroom shortage.
In a statement, the education chief said the department is now looking into various strategies to address campus congestion.
“We are no longer content with the old system. We are changing the way we deliver to make it faster, more efficient, more effective, and more transparent,” he said.
Included in the strategies is the potential pilot launch of a “4+1” blended learning model.
“(It will be) four days onsite and one day online,” Angara said.
The DepEd is also considering the expansion of vouchers in primary education, the leasing or acquiring of foreclosed private properties, as well as the mobilization of private sector donations for 2,000 learning spaces.
Angara said by accessing foreclosed properties, the DepEd can immediately use 1,000 classrooms.
He also cited the use of pre-fabricated Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS), which were already piloted in Masbate and Davao del Norte, saying 2,571 units are slated for installation across 1,017 municipalities within the year.
Angara, meanwhile, led the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding with the LMP to accelerate classroom constructions in the country.
“Education is a shared responsibility, and our LGUs are the best-positioned partners to ensure these funds are translated into actual, usable classrooms for our learners,” he said.
Earlier, the DepEd signed a memorandum of agreement with provincial and city governments to impose special provisions on school building construction.
The DepEd seeks to build 30,000 classrooms through 2028 through conventional procurement; and 16,000 classrooms in high-congestion areas through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) under the recently approved PPP for School Infrastructure Project Phase III. (PNA)
