DepEd Strengthens Public-Private Partnerships to Fast-Track Classroom Construction and Address Education Gaps

Book Jet Blue | MANDALUYONG CITY, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the country’s classroom gap through stronger collaboration with private and development partners during its Classroom Market Scoping Activity, held at the Senate President Neptali Gonzales Integrated School in Mandaluyong City.

The event, part of DepEd’s broader Adopt-a-School and procurement transparency initiative, gathered key industry leaders, donor institutions, and education advocates to identify cost-efficient, scalable, and standards-based solutions for building safe, resilient, and future-ready classrooms.

“Unang-una, prayoridad natin ang masiguro na maayos at matibay ang mga maipapatayo nating silid-aralan sa tulong ng ating partners. Nais din ng ating mahal na Pangulo, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., na mataas ang kalidad ng ating mga pasilidad sa mga susunod na taon,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

The session showcased DepEd’s latest classroom design innovations, including Integrated Learning Resource Centers (ILRCs) and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities. It also provided updates on procurement modalities—such as Negotiated Procurement and the Adopt-A-School Program (ASP)—to guide partners in aligning their support with the Department’s technical and quality standards.

“This Market Scoping is about transparency,” said Undersecretary for Procurement and Finance Oversight Rowena Candice Ruiz. “We’re calling everyone in — we are presenting what we need, and we are making it known to our partners what our children need for their classrooms.”

Through the initiative, DepEd seeks to open its procurement pipeline and simplify access to project information, allowing private sector partners to identify feasible investment opportunities and directly contribute to faster classroom construction nationwide.

“This activity affirms the Department’s commitment to providing conducive learning spaces while upholding accountability and transparency,” Usec. Ruiz added. “We are opening our doors so our partners can clearly see how they can support not just DepEd, but our learners, teachers, and schools.”

Among the organizations present were Aboitiz, Angat Buhay, the Asian Development Bank, Ayala Foundation, China Bank Savings, City Savings Bank, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII), Generation Hope, Globe, Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Jollibee Foods Corporation, One Meralco Foundation, Security Bank Foundation, and the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, among others.

The Market Scoping Activity builds on DepEd’s earlier sessions on Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS), Supplementary Learning Resources (SLRs), and education technology, all aimed at mapping out supply chains, optimizing costs, and identifying local implementers capable of meeting DepEd’s national construction targets.

This event is part of DepEd’s ongoing mission to ensure that every Filipino learner has access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning environments—developed through transparent partnerships and community-driven collaboration.

DepEd announced that it will convene a Classroom Summit in Clark, Pampanga, in November 2025 to finalize partnership frameworks and formalize commitments generated through the market scoping process.