Bacolod Mayor Inks Classroom Construction Agreement with DepEd at Malacañang Palace
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya formalized a significant memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education at Malacañang Palace on Monday, February 23, 2026, marking a pivotal step toward constructing additional classrooms in the city. This agreement aligns with the National Government's broader initiative to close classroom gaps across the Philippines, addressing a critical shortage that currently stands at 144,758 units as of January 2026.
Education as a Top Priority
In a statement following the signing, Mayor Gasataya emphasized that education remains at the heart of his administrative priorities. "In line with the efforts of the National Government to close classroom gaps nationwide, we personally signed a MOA at Malacañang Palace with the DepEd to build more classrooms in Bacolod City," he said. He further committed to ensuring quality and accessible learning for every resident, adding, "We will keep ensuring quality and accessible learning for every Bacolodnon."
National Classroom Building Program Expansion
The signing ceremony, presided over by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., formalized a landmark partnership between DepEd and local government units to fast-track the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of classrooms nationwide. This event represents the second batch of partnerships under the administration's Nationwide Classroom Building Program, designed to urgently mitigate the classroom deficit. President Marcos highlighted the program's importance, stating, "Every classroom we build gives our children a better future."
Substantial Funding and Accountability Measures
The initiative is supported by substantial funding allocated under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which earmarks P85.4 billion for Basic Education Facilities. Specifically:
- P9.6 billion has been programmed for the construction of approximately 4,000 classrooms under the first tranche.
- An additional P5.96 billion will fund around 1,700 more classrooms through the newly signed agreements.
To ensure transparency and efficiency, strict accountability measures have been implemented, including tranche-based fund releases, dedicated trust accounts, and mandatory monthly and quarterly reporting to DepEd.
Local Government Participation in Negros Occidental
In Negros Occidental, several other local government units have expressed interest in the nationwide classroom program by submitting Letters of Intent. These include municipalities such as Binalbagan, Ilog, Hinoba-an, Pulupandan, Isabela, Pontevedra, Calatrava, Murcia, EB Magallona, Cauayan, San Enrique, Manapla, and Valladolid. However, according to Ian Arnold Arnaez, DepEd Negros Occidental spokesperson, three municipalities—Toboso, Moises Padilla, and Candoni—do not possess the Seal of Good Local Governance required to qualify for the program, highlighting the importance of governance standards in accessing these educational infrastructure funds.
