It aims to address the immediate needs in disaster-affected areas.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has expedited the construction of prefabricated and disaster-resilient classrooms, which are called Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS).
The initiative is presented as a “quick and affordable solution” to meet the classroom shortage and ensure that students’ learning is not interrupted, especially after natural calamities.
These semi-permanent, modular classrooms can be assembled in four to eight weeks and has been designed to be disaster-resilient by being able to withstand winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and comply with Seismic Zone 4 structural standards.
They are also made to be climate-responsive, with passive cooling, proper ventilation, and natural light to ensure a comfortable, child-safe, and accessible learning environment.
Depending on the needs of the locality, the structures can be built from small two-room buildings to large five-room facilities.
Under the 2026 budget of the department, which amounts to over PHP1 trillion, PHP3.5 billion has been allotted to the LCS program for schools that have a severe shortage of classrooms, old and condemned buildings, and need immediate space for learning.
According to the latest report provided by the Department of Education (DepEd), a total of 878 LCS units are being implemented under the first two phases of the program.
Out of that, 453 are currently under construction, while 391 are in the procurement phase, and 34 are completed and ready for use.
Angara emphasized that these projects are important short-term solutions to address the acute shortage of classrooms using quality materials.
The official said, “Ayon sa utos ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, kailangang bilisan natin ang pagpapatayo ng mga ligtas na pasilidad upang matiyak ang tuluy-tuloy na pagkatuto ng ating mga mag-aaral, lalo na sa mga lugar na madalas tamaan ng kalamidad.”
The program is expanding with the purchase of two buildings with five classrooms each at Romana C. Acharon Elementary School and H.N. Cahilsot Central Elementary School in General Santos City, all expected to be completed this month.
In addition, a separate budget of PHP226.4 million has been allocated for the construction of 109 more ready-to-assemble classrooms in seven regions nationwide. 83 of these units will be built in Davao Region (Region XI) to support schools affected by the Sarangani earthquake last June.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mabilisang pag-rollout ng mga makabagong LCS na ito, mas mabilis nating natutugunan ang kakulangan sa silid-aralan nang may mataas na kalidad,” added Angara.
