MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has cleared the path for a massive overhaul of the nation’s education and transport infrastructure, approving a Php 105.7-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to address the country’s chronic classroom shortage.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the Economy and Development Council (ED Council), according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev). The centerpiece of the approvals, the School Infrastructure Project Phase III (PSIP III), aims to decongest overcrowded public schools and eliminate the need for multiple-shift schedules.
Currently, Philippine classrooms average 50 students per class, a figure experts say stifles effective learning. The PSIP III seeks to slash that average to 39 students by delivering 16,459 new classrooms across 1,095 schools in Luzon.
“By investing in classrooms that strengthen learning outcomes, we are laying the foundation for higher productivity and stronger human capital,” said DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
The project will utilize a “Build-Lease-and-Transfer” model to fast-track construction, with the goal of benefiting 800,000 learners annually starting in early 2027. This initiative complements the Department of Education’s separate plan to construct 25,000 classrooms under the 2026 national budget.
The Council also approved the Central Mindanao High Standard Highway, a 64.7-kilometer arterial road connecting Cagayan de Oro to Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
The Php 145.56-billion project is expected to be a game-changer for the region, where travel time is expected to be cut nearly in half, from 6.5 hours to 3.6 hours. The project includes the building of 47 bridges, nine of which are designated as “special long-span” structures. In terms of economic impact, Sec. Balisacan noted the highway will revitalize Mindanao’s economy by attracting new investments and slashing transport costs for local businesses.
Agriculture and rural mobility also received a significant boost with two major bridge programs, such as the PBBM Bridges Project or Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka. Worth around Php 28.24 billion, this initiative will build durable modular steel bridges to link Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) to major markets, benefiting an estimated 350,000 households. The other is the Farm-to-Market Bridges or FMBDP, a program worth Php 27.69 billion that will see 300 modular bridges installed across 15 regions through 2029.
“These projects go beyond engineering solutions,” Balisacan added. “They are strategic interventions to transform subsistence farming into competitive, profitable enterprises.”