BUTUAN CITY (October 27) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has tapped local governments in Mindanao to take the lead in building and repairing classrooms, saying it’s time to “cut red tape” and get school projects done faster, especially in areas hit by disasters.
Speaking during a ceremony in Butuan City on Friday, Marcos said the national government will download funds directly to capable LGUs so they can construct and rehabilitate classrooms in their own communities.
“From now on, lahat ng LGU na may kapasidad, ida-download namin ang pondo. Kayo na ang magpatayo ng inyong eskuwelahan,” Marcos told Mindanao local officials.
Faster recovery for quake-hit schools
The President said the new scheme will help speed up the rebuilding of schools damaged by recent earthquakes and other calamities in Mindanao.
He assured that LGUs lacking construction equipment or technical capacity will receive assistance from the national government.
“This is not just about efficiency — it’s about resilience,” Marcos said. “We want students back in safe classrooms as soon as possible.”
Decentralized approach
Until now, classroom projects have been handled by the Department of Education (DepEd) and implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) — a process Marcos said is often slowed by paperwork and clearances.
He noted that local leaders are better positioned to act quickly and are directly accountable to their communities.
“Malakas ang loob ko sa mga LGU executives,” he added. “Hindi puwedeng mag-ghost project. Hindi rin puwedeng substandard — makikita kayo ng mga tao ninyo.”
The President’s directive is part of a broader push to devolve infrastructure functions to local governments, giving Mindanao provinces, cities, and municipalities a stronger role in delivering education and recovery programs.
