New 24-Classroom Building Inaugurated at SPNAGIS in Mandaluyong City

CITY OF MANDALUYONG, 3 February 2025 – In a significant boost to educational infrastructure, Education Secretary Sonny Angara inaugurated a new 24-classroom building at the Senate President Neptali A. Gonzales Integrated School (SPNAGIS) on Monday. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s commitment to enhancing education facilities across the country.

Established through Republic Act No. 11305, SPNAGIS now boasts 96 classrooms, including 21 specialized laboratory rooms and offices. This expansion aims to provide students with improved access to quality learning spaces, addressing the urgent need for more educational facilities.

“Ito ang kauna-unahang eskwelahan na napuntahan namin sa buong kapuluan, sa buong Pilipinas, na may surplus. Bihirang-bihira po ito. Palagay ko, one-of-a-kind ito—mayroon nang nakahandang 24 silid-aralan para sa inyo,” Secretary Angara remarked during the inauguration. He highlighted the uniqueness of the school’s surplus classrooms, a rare achievement in the country.

Secretary Angara also emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in accelerating school infrastructure projects under the Marcos Jr. administration. With a nationwide backlog of over 165,000 classrooms, the Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for the construction of 15,000 classrooms by 2027 through a PPP scheme. The program aims to scale up in the coming years, particularly in high-growth and underserved areas.

The inauguration of the new building at SPNAGIS is part of the activities leading up to Mandaluyong City’s 80th Liberation Anniversary and 31st Cityhood Anniversary on February 9. The event was attended by notable figures, including Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin “Ben” Abalos, Vice Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos, former Vice Mayor Antonio “Anthony” delos Santos Suva Jr., and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Medina Gonzales II, along with key Central and local DepEd officials.

In his speech, Secretary Angara commended the Schools Division Office – City of Mandaluyong for its outstanding performance, ranking first nationwide among 228 school division offices in the 2022-2023 National Achievement Test. “I congratulate all of you. This is the result of your hard work—your sacrifices, the late nights, the early mornings, and the many meetings you held. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo. I am honored to witness this and to be part of your success,” he said.

This new development at SPNAGIS represents a significant step towards improving educational infrastructure in the Philippines, ensuring that students have access to the facilities they need to succeed.