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Photo from Pixabay
The Departments of Public Works and Highways and Education are studying modern construction technologies to fast-track the building of classrooms across the country.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited a precast manufacturing facility in Mariveles, Bataan on Monday to assess how modular construction methods could help address the country’s classroom backlog.
Dizon explained that precast construction involves producing building components off-site, which are then transported to project locations and assembled into complete structures.
Suppliers handle both the delivery and installation of these modules, allowing projects to move more efficiently once materials arrive on site.
He noted that using precast modules could significantly shorten construction timelines, with classroom units potentially completed within 30 days.
Dizon added that once contracts are finalized, which is targeted for mid-March, the bidding and awarding process is expected to take about a month.
During the inspection, the two officials examined modular and precast classroom prototypes designed to provide practical and scalable solutions for public schools, particularly those facing overcrowding.
The urgency of accelerating school construction comes as the Philippines grapples with a shortage of 165,443 classrooms, according to estimates from the Second Congressional Commission on Education. The deficit could widen further, with around 51,000 aging classrooms projected to be condemned by 2028.
Education and public works officials are banking on faster, technology-driven construction approaches to help close the gap and improve learning conditions nationwide.