NEGROS Occidental — In a unified push to address the growing classroom shortage in the province, the Bago City government hosted the Negros Occidental Mayors’ Dialogue on the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) on February 12 at the Bago City Community Center.
The dialogue, convened by the Negros Association of Chief Executives, brought together local chief executives from across the province for discussions with Sen. Bam Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The forum aligned with Senate Bill No. 1482, or the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, which recently passed its third and final reading in the Senate.
The legislative measure seeks to address the massive national classroom shortage by empowering local government units (LGUs) and qualified civil society organizations (CSOs) to undertake school construction projects that meet Department of Education standards.
Bago City Mayor Mayette Javellana welcomed Aquino and fellow local leaders, describing the gathering as a collective stand for the youth of Negros Occidental.
“Your participation shows that when it comes to education, we stand united. This gathering is not for any one person or office; this is for our people, for the children who will inherit the future we are shaping today,” Javellana said.
She added that the dialogue reflects a shared commitment to ensure that every peso allocated for education truly benefits the people.
During the forum, Aquino responded to queries from mayors regarding practical and strategic solutions to fast-track classroom construction in their respective localities, according to the Bago City Information Office.
He underscored the importance of stronger collaboration between national agencies and LGUs to address infrastructure gaps that continue to affect learning conditions.
The proposed CAP aims to streamline the building process by tapping capable LGUs and partner organizations, reducing bureaucratic delays and accelerating the delivery of safe and compliant school facilities to communities in need.
Separately, Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito said Aquino also met with Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya and other former political leaders in the province during a breakfast meeting.
Distrito said discussions covered the classroom backlog in Bacolod City and across Negros Occidental, updates on policies related to the Commission on Higher Education scholarship program, and the implementation of local government-led school feeding initiatives, among other education-related concerns./PN
