Students at Cubal Integrated School in Agoo, La Union will soon move into new classrooms after spending nearly four years in makeshift learning spaces, as education and public works officials push forward with a wider classroom expansion program across Region 1.

A newly built two-story building with six classrooms will be inaugurated on Thursday at the school, providing dedicated learning spaces for Grade 7, Grade 8, and Grade 9 students.

The additional classrooms are expected to ease overcrowding and improve learning conditions for students who have been attending classes in temporary facilities.

Lorna Aromin, the school principal, welcomed the project and said many schools still lack enough classrooms.

“Unang-una sa lahat, malaking bagay ang mga ganitong proyekto ng DPWH at DepEd kasi marami pa talagang schools ang kulang ng classroom.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said construction of the first batch of 40 school buildings, equivalent to 216 classrooms, will begin in July across La Union, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur.

A second batch consisting of 18 more school buildings is scheduled to be built in Region 1 before the end of 2026.

DPWH Region 1 Officer-in-Charge Assistant Regional Director Dexter Cavaneyro said the projects will follow a design-and-build approach.

“Design and build ito, meaning from concept hanggang sa mismong paggawa, may mga kinuha tayong consultant,” he said.

The agency also assured the public that the new buildings are designed to withstand earthquakes and are based on careful site studies.

“Seismic resilient ang mga building na itatayo, napag-aralan nang maigi mula sa soil location,” Cavaneyro added.

The classroom projects have a total funding of P690 million and are targeted for completion within 455 days, covering the pre-design stage through turnover.