Photo courtesy of Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay/PNA
Antique has received a Php 2.4 billion allocation for the construction of 811 classrooms in the province, education officials said Wednesday.
Rex Galero, engineer of the Department of Education Schools Division of Antique, said the funding was included in the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
He said the classrooms would be built in 274 public schools across the province to help ease overcrowding and replace aging school facilities.
Each classroom was allotted Php 3 million under the program of work prepared by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Galero said the schools covered by the program were chosen from among 538 public schools in Antique, with priority given to those facing classroom shortages or those with old and dilapidated rooms.
He said the division was still assessing other schools that also needed additional classrooms under its continuing expansion plan.
Galero said DepEd was coordinating with local governments and private landowners for possible lot donations or acquisitions, as the province still needed about 1,800 classrooms but some schools lacked available space.
He said the DPWH had started procurement for the projects, which were expected to begin next month, adding that the province was grateful to Sen. Loren Legarda and Antique Rep. Antonio Legarda for helping secure the funding.