Catbangen Elementary School in San Fernando, La Union (File photo)

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday announced its partnership with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) to speed up the construction of school buildings in the country.

Under the signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) with LRA, the DepEd will secure electronic land titles which will be converted from manually-issued ones.

“Nakikita natin (We are seeing) that the lack of title signifies lack of security or [lack of] a secured future because dito nade-delay ang pag-construct ng panibagong classrooms (this is where the delay of classroom construction comes),” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement Thursday.

The move will help address “bureaucratic delays” and long-standing concerns about classroom backlogs.

For his part, LRA Administrator Sirios said the pact is crucial in securing assets for the welfare of the youth.

“This event will help not only the Department of Education in securing its assets but also securing the future of our youth because with these assets, this is where schools will be located, and with the schools, we can provide quality education to our youth,” he said.

Angara earlier underscored the need to push for more public-private partnerships to accelerate the construction of more classrooms in public schools, with target bidding for bulk construction projects.

He also urged other private firms to take advantage of the DepEd’s Adopt-A-School program; as well as collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite procurement processes and constructions.

To date, the DepEd said there are around 159,000 classroom backlog. (PNA)