DepEd to construct over 1000 climate-resilient facilities

The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday that it aims to construct 1,380 Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS) facilities units nationwide to help address damaged classrooms and learning disruptions caused by natural disasters.

“This project reflects the marching orders of President Marcos to ensure that no Filipino learner is left behind, even in the face of the most challenging calamities,” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara said in a statement.

Data from DepEd showed that over 10,700 schools nationwide were damaged from June to October 2025, with a total estimated loss of P29.5 billion in school properties due to earthquakes, typhoons, and other calamities.

The damage has disrupted classes for more than 1.1 million learners across the country, which pushed schools to adopt various class modalities.

About 10,448 damaged schools implemented modular distance learning, 4,319 applied blended learning, 522 utilized flexible learning options, and 414 adopted online distance learning.

DepEd noted that the initiative to establish climate-resilient facilities came after the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Bogo City in September last year, which affected classes for 90 students. In the same month, Typhoon Opong disrupted classes of 270 students in Masbate.

To promote continuous learning, the newly turned-over LCS facilities in Bogo City and Masbate are equipped with solar-powered setups and internet connectivity, ensuring schools can resume after the event of natural calamities.

“By integrating solar power and digital tools into these temporary spaces, we are not just rebuilding classrooms, but building a more resilient future for our children,” Mr. Angara said.

Each LCS facility takes two weeks to install, allowing schools to recover swiftly.

“The initiative also serves as a direct response to the President’s directive to slash the national classroom shortage through the use of fast-tracked, disaster-resilient infrastructure,” the DepEd said.

The country’s current classroom backlog stands at 165,443, and could further worsen by 2028 due to aging facilities.

Citing data from DepEd, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said that about 122,518 classrooms have already exceeded the standard 25-year design life, and 51,222 classrooms are expected to be condemned by 2028. — Almira Louise S. Martinez