DepEd to Build Disaster-Resilient Schools and Expand Resources through PPP

PASIG CITY, 4 February 2025 — In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s commitment to resilient education, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced that the Department of Education (DepEd) will construct disaster-resilient school buildings and seek additional resources through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

“Tututukan natin ang pagpapatayo ng mga disaster-resilient facilities sa ating schools, lalo na sa mga lubhang naapektuhan ng mga bagyo noong nakaraang taon. Our facilities must have structural integrity to withstand stronger typhoons and earthquakes,” Secretary Angara stated.

This initiative follows the groundbreaking of the country's first 12-story public school building in Cebu, designed to endure severe weather conditions.

Angara highlighted that DepEd's agreement with the PPP Center will expedite efforts to address classroom shortages, with the construction of 15,000 classrooms set to begin this year, benefiting 1,600 schools across nine regions.

He also emphasized the need to increase the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the immediate repair and reconstruction of damaged schools. “Our current Quick Response Fund is simply not enough to address the scale of destruction we face each year. If we want to rebuild quickly and effectively, we need more resources,” Angara said, referencing EDCOM II’s Year 2 report on the agency’s lack of QRF.

In 2024, 1,855 schools were affected by various calamities, requiring ₱6.6 billion for repairs and ₱6.3 billion to replace 1,846 classrooms. Despite an increase to ₱3 billion annually, DepEd’s QRF remains insufficient.

The Department welcomed the signing of Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, mandating permanent evacuation centers to prevent schools from being used as temporary shelters.

Additionally, DepEd will reinforce the implementation of DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, to ensure learning continuity during disasters and emergencies. Schools are encouraged to develop a Learning and Service Continuity Plan, outlining Alternative Delivery Modalities (ADMs) for face-to-face class suspensions.