• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has called on the national government to pursue a tripartite agreement among Departments of Education, Public Works and Highways, and Agriculture to empower qualified local government units to achieve accelerated growth through improved infrastructure, stronger rural connectivity, and better school facilities.
This was after the Department of Education chose Sorsogon as a pilot area for its expanded classroom construction initiative.
Escudero said the selection of Sorsogon is a recognition of the local government unit’s (LGU) long-standing commitment to better education.
Escudero said the move affirms the principle he earlier advocated: capable LGUs, when empowered through national partnerships, can accelerate progress in critical sectors like education.
“This collaboration reflects the same framework that I advocated recently about national agencies partnering with LGUs that have proven capacity and stability,” Escudero said in a statement.
The veteran legislator issued the statement after Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed the forthcoming signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), with the President expected to witness the ceremony.
Escudero, who served as governor of Sorsogon from 2019 to 2022, emphasized that education has always been a priority for the province.
During his term, he strengthened school infrastructure, expanded digital learning support, and implemented pandemic era interventions to ensure continuity of education.
These efforts complemented the province’s broader infrastructure and peace and order gains, positioning Sorsogon to lead in addressing the classroom backlog.
Under the proposed MOA, the Provincial Government of Sorsogon will undertake school building projects through the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF). The LGU will lead procurement and construction, while DepEd will provide financial assistance and technical guidance to ensure compliance with national standards and quality assurance requirements.
The joint undertaking is designed to combine local agility with national expertise, enabling faster and more accountable project delivery.
Escudero said the collaboration is a model for how national and local governments can work together to solve systemic challenges. “DepEd’s openness to new approaches and Sorsogon’s readiness to deliver make this partnership a strong step toward ensuring that every Filipino learner has a safe, dignified, and functional classroom,” he noted.
He expressed hope that the pilot implementation in Sorsogon will pave the way for similar partnerships nationwide, especially in areas with the capacity to deliver infrastructure efficiently.*
