Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday emphasized the importance of building schools within communities that offer sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, noting that better mobility can improve public education and the lives of Filipino learners.

In line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s vision to enhance public transport and quality of life, the Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO) to develop safer, more accessible, and sustainable mobility solutions through the Senate-DepEd (SEED) Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Project.

At the heart of the collaboration is the 14-hectare DepEd Complex in Taguig City, which DepEd plans to convert into an “Education City”—a future-ready, climate-resilient mixed-use development featuring green commercial and residential spaces, open parks, transit hubs, training centers, MICE facilities, and teacher accommodations.

Education City will rise alongside the planned Senate-DepEd Station, a major transport hub that will connect two of the country’s largest railway projects — the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway.

“This partnership ensures that our learners and educators will also directly benefit from a well-planned, green, and safe environment that ultimately contributes to the public education objectives,” Angara said.

The SEED Project aims to develop accessible, well-connected communities around mass transit corridors, making it easier for students and residents to live, learn, and work within Metro Manila.

Beyond connectivity, the project is expected to generate long-term revenue for DepEd to help fund new classrooms and support digital learning initiatives in public schools.

“The UK is proud to bring in British expertise and innovation to pioneer a TOD where people can live, learn, work, and thrive — connected by efficient transport systems, designed with people at the heart, and guided by principles of sustainability and resilience,” said British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils.

Under the agreement, a working group will be formed to oversee the project’s implementation, with Phase 2 covering technical studies and a full project concept to be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee for approval.

The initiative is funded by the UK FCDO’s Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme, modeled after London’s Elizabeth Line — a global benchmark for smart, transit-oriented urban development. DepEd and DOTr will also work closely with Crossrail International and leading British architectural and engineering firms.