The provincial government of Isabela has initiated a comprehensive mapping of public schools to identify the most urgent infrastructure needs, aiming to accelerate construction and rehabilitation projects in collaboration with the Department of Education.
Governor Rodito T. Albano III and the Department of Education’s Schools Division Office launched the assessment this week, focusing on schools experiencing the most severe classroom shortages to prioritize forthcoming projects.
The effort follows a memorandum of agreement signed earlier in the year, which expands local government involvement in school infrastructure development. Under the agreement, provincial authorities will manage procurement, construction, replacement, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repair of school facilities, while the Department of Education will supply funding, engineering designs, and technical supervision to ensure compliance with national standards.
Nationally, the education system faced a deficit of 145,170 classrooms as of December 2025, compelling many public schools to operate in temporary learning spaces or adopt shifting schedules.
The government has pledged to address this backlog through strengthened partnerships with local units, setting an initial goal of constructing approximately 4,000 new classrooms under the program.
Isabela’s mapping initiative will direct resources to the schools with the greatest need, fast‑track the delivery of new classrooms, and improve learning conditions for thousands of students across the province.
