Angara ramps up support for learning continuity spaces rollout
MAKATI CITY — Education Secretary Sonny Angara intensified technical support for field offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) to fast-track the nationwide expansion of Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS), ensuring learners in disaster-prone communities have safer, dedicated areas to study.
This strategic push aims to provide resilient facilities that allow classes to go on despite typhoons, infrastructure damage, and other major disruptions.
The initiative is backed by a P3.5-billion allocation under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) to prioritize schools with the most urgent structural needs or those dealing with severe classroom shortages.
READ: Angara advances barangay-level mapping of learning gaps
“At the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we are ensuring that children have sturdy classrooms even during disasters,” Angara said.
“It is a priority of the Marcos administration that no student is left behind through the rapid construction of high-quality facilities in every corner of the country,” he added.
To ensure a seamless rollout, DepEd has conducted two comprehensive webinars for Schools Division Offices (SDOs) and established online monitoring and personalized guidance sessions to provide immediate technical assistance to field offices.
This hands-on approach is further supported by an official digital communication group and frequently updated frequently asked questions to maintain constant coordination between the DepEd central office and local implementers.
Significant procurement milestones have already been reached, with the SDOs of Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur officially posting tenders for dozens of new LCS units.
Meanwhile, 29 other SDOs across the country are conducting pre-procurement conferences throughout April to finalize their respective project requirements.
By downloading funds directly to SDOs, DepEd enables immediate local procurement, ensuring that each LCS can be constructed and be fully functional within just one to two weeks.
The construction program emphasizes the use of local materials and local labor, which helps boost local economies while preventing logistical delays.
The LCS structures are engineered to meet standard climate-safety benchmarks, ensuring they remain secure even in high-risk environmental conditions.
Marcos and Angara previously inspected the successful implementation of these modular hubs in Bogo City, Cebu; Masbate; and Tagum City, Davao.
The deployment of these resilient designs, combined with consistent monitoring, ensures that learners in vulnerable communities can return to safe learning environments without delay.
Through these proactive measures, DepEd remains committed to maintaining educational continuity regardless of the challenges posed by natural hazards. /das
