It was a historic event for San Pedro City, Laguna, as it welcomed its first ever fully air-conditioned public classrooms.
Opened last December 11 at the Pacita Complex 2 Elementary School in Barangay Pacita 2, the new four-storey, 12-classroom building was touted as a step towards education of the future: a conducive learning environment where students can look past their worries about the heat and humidity and simply focus on becoming better students.
Or so promised officials led by no less than Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Eduardo “Sonny” Angara, who personally led the inauguration of the new classrooms.
Angara was joined by Undersecretary Atty. Peter Corvera and Assistant Secretary Aurelio Paulo “AP” Bartolome; Laguna 1st District Representative Ann Matibag; San Pedro City Vice Mayor Nina Almoro; and Councilor Gius Castasus.
Angara also surprised the public elementary school by donating five laptops for teachers and students.
“Meron po kaming dinalang konting computers para sa ating Learned Teachers and Learners. Hindi ito yung official DCP or Digital Computerization Program ng department kasi na-cut yun for 2025, although na-restore mid-year dahil sa tulong ni Pangulong Bongbong [Marcos]. Ito yung private efforts ko. Si misis ang nag-fundraise po nito,” Angara said.
He hoped that the laptops would be useful to maximize the potential of students, and just be the start needed for their learning growth.
Hope for PH education
The project was finished by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in less than seven months, a rather remarkable feat for its size.
In her message during the event, Matibag credited Angara’s full support for the completion of the new classroom and thanked him for helping to “fast-track” the project.
Meanwhile, Angara expressed his optimism that DepEd will be able to continue its mandate of improving the country’s education sector.
This comes amid previous budget cuts for the agency, as well as the recent allegations of corruption in public infrastructure that has affected the quality of public classrooms in the Philippines.
“But I want to express special support dahil kung naalala niyo, this time last year, nabawasan yung budget natin ng P12 billion, hindi ba? And P10 billion of that was from the Computerization Program. Pero ginawa ng paraan ni Pangulo na dinagdagan tayo,” Angara said.
The Congressional bicameral conference committee tackling the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has agreed to allot a total of P1.38 trillion for agencies in the education sector, including P961 billion for DepEd itself.
The bicameral committee is now fast-tracking the reconciliation of the House and Senate versions of the GAA, with the hopes of President Marcos signing the 2026 budget before the end of December.
Comfortable learning
For Angara, the new classrooms will “bring” a new level of learning for Pacita 2 Elementary School’s students.
“Ang hirap magturo pagkamainit ang panahon, di po ba? At saka proven po yan. May mga scientific study na kapag mas presko, mas mataas ang score ng ating mga bata. So, thank you for modernizing the schools here in San Pedro City, dito sa Pacita,” he explained.
These sentiments were shared by local officials who believe that the new classrooms is a step forward in reducing the current backlog of classrooms not only in San Pedro City but also elsewhere.
“It is very timely po indeed lalo na sa national stage na kung saan ang usapin ng malaking classroom backlogs nationwide. At every classroom built po means more children having the opportunity na magkaroon ng maayos na learning experience. And we owe to them na matiyak na sila ay matuto under conducive learning environment,” Councilor Castasus said.
The only question that remains now is how will the national and local governments sustain the costs of maintaining these classrooms.
It also remains to be seen whether these airconditioned classrooms will withstand the worsening effects of climate change that has resulted in the Philippines recording “record high” temperatures during the summer season.
(With additional report by Christian Magdaraog)
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #DepEd #DPWH #Education