Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez hailed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) partnership with HOPE and private companies to address the country’s massive classroom backlog, calling it a landmark collaboration aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a whole-of-nation approach to transform the education sector.
Under DepEd’s Generation HOPE program, resources from partner companies such as SM, Penshoppe, Grab, Aivee, Carmen’s Best, Sunnies, and Banco de Oro will be mobilized to construct new classrooms nationwide under a public-private partnership scheme.
“Ang proyektong ito ay hindi lamang pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan kundi pagbibigay ng konkretong pag-asa sa bawat batang Pilipino. Sa pagtutulungan ng pamahalaan at pribadong sektor, nakapagbibigay tayo ng mas ligtas, maayos, at mas epektibong kapaligiran para sa kanilang pag-aaral,” Romualdez said.
Established in 2012 by Nanette Medved-Po, HOPE channels 100 percent of profits from products like Hope in a Bottle and Hope in a Box into building classrooms and funding social projects. So far, the group has built 144 classrooms, benefiting 52,000 learners nationwide. Each classroom is typhoon-resilient and comes fully equipped with a chalkboard, teacher’s desk, fans, a restroom, and ample ventilation.
Romualdez also commended Education Secretary Sonny Angara for his leadership in uniting government and private stakeholders behind the program.
“Malinaw na ang direksiyon at malasakit ni Secretary Angara ang nagbibigay ng bagong sigla at kumpiyansa sa ating sektor ng edukasyon. Sa kanyang pamumuno, natitiyak natin na ang mga reporma at inisyatiba ng DepEd ay nakaangkla sa pangarap ng Pangulo na mabigyan ng dekalidad na edukasyon ang bawat batang Pilipino,” he said.
The House of Representatives, Romualdez assured, fully supports the President’s education agenda and vowed to secure funding under the PHP6.793-trillion proposed 2026 national budget. Of this, PHP28.1 billion is allocated for Basic Education Facilities, covering 4,869 new classrooms and rehabilitation of existing ones.
“Much more should be done to close the gaps and help advance our education system. As we deliberate on the proposed funding for our teachers and learners, we will see to it that every peso from our taxpayers is prudently and wisely spent for the future of our young, many of whom only wish to uplift their families out of poverty,” Romualdez added.
He stressed that under Bagong Pilipinas, the government remains committed to helping students and their families achieve their dreams, ensuring the future of the next generation of leaders and responsible citizens.