By Vhioly Rosatazo
MANILA — Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto threw his support behind measures aimed at accelerating classroom construction and expanding access to basic education as the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture deliberated several key bills on Tuesday.
Pleyto is among the principal authors of a proposed substitute bill seeking to establish a Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) under the Department of Education (DepEd), which would allow local government units and private sector entities to directly undertake the construction of classrooms nationwide.
The 6th Legislative District of Bulacan, established under Republic Act No. 11546, consists of the municipalities of Santa Maria, Norzagaray, and Angat.
The proposal was discussed during the committee hearing chaired by Roman Romulo, alongside other measures designed to address classroom shortages, overcrowding, and learning disruptions across the country.
Under the CAP bill, the government aims to speed up the delivery of classrooms by tapping LGUs and private partners, streamlining procedures, and providing dedicated funding for school infrastructure projects. Lawmakers said the initiative is intended to respond to persistent gaps in public school facilities, particularly in rapidly growing and underserved areas.
Aside from the CAP measure, the committee also took up a substitute bill granting the President emergency powers to expedite the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of classrooms, including the adoption of special procurement measures during urgent situations.
Another bill discussed seeks to provide flexible education pathways for basic education students, with proponents stressing the need for reforms that better align schooling with learners’ needs and real-world demands.
The committee also received a briefing from the Department of Education on its proposed trimester system for School Year 2026–2027, as well as updates on the implementation of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education in the K to 12 curriculum.
Lawmakers, including Pleyto, emphasized that improving school infrastructure and modernizing education delivery are critical to raising learning outcomes and ensuring that no student is left behind due to lack of facilities.
The measures remain subject to consolidation and further deliberation at the committee level. /elamigo
