DepEd partners with 168 LGUs to strengthen classroom project monitoring

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday that 168 local government units (LGUs) have signed supplemental memoranda of agreement (MOAs) for its localized classroom construction program, as the agency steps up monitoring of projects.

According to DepEd, the partner LGUs include 72 provinces, 73 cities, and 23 municipalities.

The department said it has strengthened its monitoring framework to ensure that classroom construction projects implemented by LGUs adhere to national timelines, digital validation processes, and quality standards.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency aims to ensure that new classrooms are built efficiently while meeting government standards.

“Ang ating layunin ay hindi lamang basta makapagpatayo ng gusali, kundi masigurong ang bawat pisong ginagastos ay nagiging kalidad at ligtas na silid-aralan para sa ating mga mag-aaral," he said.

(Our goal is not simply to construct buildings, but to ensure that every peso spent translates into quality and safe classrooms for our students.)

He added that DepEd would continue monitoring the projects to keep them on schedule.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure these classrooms are built with efficiency and transparency, as this infrastructure is the bedrock of a quality learning environment. We will continue to hold our partners and our internal systems to the highest level of accountability to ensure these projects remain on track," he said.

DepEd said that, of the 149 LGUs currently under monitoring, 130 are in the pre-procurement stage for classroom construction projects in 358 schools. The pre-procurement activities include preparing the Program of Work and Detailed Architectural and Engineering Design, conducting market scoping, and carrying out pre-bidding, bid posting, and bid opening.

Meanwhile, three LGUs have reached the procurement award stage, covering classroom projects at 22 school sites. — VBL, GMA News