CEBU Province has secured P200 million from the Department of Education (DepEd) to build additional public school classrooms as the province continues to address a shortage of 5,466 learning spaces.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DepEd for the implementation of the Basic Education Facilities Program (BEFP), which will fund the construction of new school buildings across Cebu.
Under the agreement, DepEd will provide the P200 million allocation and ensure compliance with technical standards, while the Cebu Provincial Government will oversee the procurement and construction of the school facilities.
The funding is part of the national government’s Basic Education Facilities Program under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which aims to help address the country’s estimated backlog of 145,000 classrooms.
The agreement was signed days after education officials reported before the Cebu Provincial Board that the province needs 5,466 additional classrooms to ease overcrowding in public schools.
During the Provincial Board’s regular session on July 6, members approved a resolution authorizing the provincial government to enter into an agreement with DepEd for the implementation of school infrastructure projects.
Cebu Province Schools Division Superintendent Senen Priscilo Paulin earlier said the province currently has 14,183 classrooms, but thousands of these require repairs.
Of the existing classrooms, 6,261 need minor repairs, while 4,155 require major rehabilitation.
The lack of adequate classrooms has resulted in some schools operating beyond ideal student-to-classroom ratios, while damaged facilities from past disasters continue to affect learning conditions.
DepEd 7 Regional Director Arturo Bayocot previously told the Provincial Board that Central Visayas has a classroom shortage of 10,845, with Cebu accounting for nearly half of the regional deficit.
Bayocot also reported that 23,842 classrooms across Central Visayas need repairs, while only 14,592 are considered in good condition.
He attributed part of the shortage to recurring disasters, including Typhoon Tino and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu in 2025, which damaged school buildings and increased the need for reconstruction.
While waiting for permanent repairs and new facilities, DepEd has been using temporary Learning Continuity Spaces in affected schools to allow classes to continue.
The newly signed agreement confirms the availability of P200 million for Cebu’s classroom construction efforts, but provincial officials have yet to announce the specific number of classrooms to be built, priority areas, and project timeline.
The Cebu Provincial Government will handle procurement and construction in compliance with government procurement laws, engineering standards, and DepEd requirements.
Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor
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