Mayors from across the country gathered in San Juan City as national and local officials called for faster action to address the country’s classroom shortage and backlog, with attention focused on how local governments can move projects forward.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora hosted the Mayor’s Dialogue on Accelerating Classroom-Building at the Makabagong San Juan Theater. The forum brought together 240 local chief executives from 45 cities and 195 municipalities, reflecting wide participation from both urban and rural areas.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Senator Bam Aquino led the discussions, highlighting the role of local governments in addressing classroom construction needs. Both officials stressed that national education initiatives require coordination with cities and municipalities to be carried out effectively.
The dialogue centered on the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, or CAP Act, which was discussed as a measure aimed at increasing the pace of classroom construction nationwide. During the forum, officials outlined how local governments are expected to participate in classroom-building efforts, including planning and coordination with national agencies.
Zamora’s role as host placed local leadership at the center of the conversation. The gathering focused on clarifying the responsibilities of mayors in supporting classroom construction efforts, particularly in aligning local action with national education priorities.
The turnout underscored the scale of the challenge facing the education sector. By convening local chief executives in one venue, the dialogue sought to provide clearer guidance on how classroom construction initiatives can move from policy discussion to actual delivery at the community level, as officials and local leaders pressed for faster action amid the country’s classroom shortage and backlog.
