The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City unanimously approved a resolution expressing its full support for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 121, otherwise known as the “Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act”, authored by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV.
The CAP Act seeks to institutionalize a sustainable and transparent nationwide program to accelerate the construction of public school classrooms and related facilities, Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito said on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
By streamlining planning and implementation, strengthening accountability, and encouraging participation of local government units (LGUs) and private partners, the measure aims to ensure that much-needed classrooms are built on time and to proper standards, he said.
Distrito, principal author of the resolution, said the City Council’s support is anchored on the urgent need to address the country’s classroom shortage, which directly affects the quality of basic education.
“The CAP Act offers an innovative solution by allowing resources to flow not only through the Department of Public Works and Highways but also directly to LGUs and trusted non-government organizations. This will fast-track classroom construction and provide Bacolod’s growing student population with safe and conducive learning spaces,” Distrito said.
Co-proponents Councilors Dindo Ramos and Celia Flor echoed the call, stressing that the measure will benefit fast-growing barangays in Bacolod where enrollment continues to outpace classroom construction.
The resolution highlights that Bacolod City is not spared from the national classroom backlog, and that an accelerated construction program is vital for equitable access to quality education, Distrito said.
Once enacted into law, the CAP Act will help bridge the gap in classroom requirements across the city and nationwide, he said.*