The Economic and Development Council, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said Friday it has approved the P105.7 billion Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project Phase III during a meeting on Thursday.
The initiative aims to address chronic classroom shortages by constructing 16,459 new classrooms across 1,095 schools in Luzon between March 2027 and March 2028.
Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said addressing infrastructure gaps in education is central to sustaining growth and laying the foundation for higher productivity.
The project is expected to benefit 800,000 students annually and reduce average class sizes from 50 to 39 students while eliminating the need for multiple-shift schedules.
The council also approved the P145.56 billion Central Mindanao High Standard Highway, which will connect Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay. The 64.7-kilometer road project, funded through official development assistance, includes 47 bridges and is expected to nearly halve travel time between the two hubs from 6.5 hours to 3.5 hours.
Department of Public Works and Highways officials said the highway would span Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon provinces, stimulating local businesses and attracting new investments to the region.
Agricultural connectivity also received a boost with the approval of the P28.24 billion PBBM Bridges Project. The program will install durable modular steel bridges to link agrarian reform communities with market centers, targeting improved incomes for 350,000 households.
The council also adjusted the timeline for the P27.69-billion Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program. The revised schedule will see the construction of 300 bridges across 15 regions between 2026 and 2029.
Balisacan said these rural interventions are designed to transform subsistence farming into competitive enterprises by enhancing market access. The projects align with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which prioritizes inclusive growth and human capital development.
The school infrastructure phase will utilize a build-lease-and-transfer arrangement to improve efficiency. This complements the Department of Education plan to build nearly 25,000 classrooms under the 2026 national budget.
