PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units for the government’s nationwide classroom building program. The DepEd aims to strengthen its partnership with city governments to accelerate the construction of safe, resilient and high-quality learning spaces. A similar partnership with provincial governments was signed earlier this month. Marcos said that the initiative is for the “betterment of the future of our children and in that way the future of our country.” "We cannot wait for decades, years, to give students safe and conducive classrooms for effective learning,” he said. "That's why I instructed DepEd to fast-track the construction of classrooms and make sure that it is properly implemented. Through the Memorandum of Agreement that you signed today, we are giving a greater role to the country's cities. The city government will oversee the procurement, construction and management of the project. The Department of Education will set the standards,” he added in Filipino. The MOA formalizes DepEd’s partnership with 149 cities, a coordinated effort between the national government and cities to fast-track permits, identify priority schools, and support the construction and maintenance of classrooms, ensuring every Filipino learner has access to a conducive environment for success. Funding for the partnership is provided through the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), with P85.39 billion allocated for Basic Education Facilities meant to bridge the country’s 165,000 classroom gap. Of this amount, P9.6 billion was allocated for the construction of 4,000 classrooms under the first tranche. An additional P5.96 billion will fund around 1,700 more classrooms through the newly signed agreements. “Let's ensure that projects are not delayed. Let's ensure that the classrooms we build are of high quality. Let's also ensure that every cent that our countrymen have worked hard for is used for the right purpose,” the president said. Marcos said his administration continues to implement complementary education reforms, including expanding the ARAL Program, accelerating the procurement of learning materials, and improving career progression pathways for teachers.