P279.5-B education, transport, rural dev’t plans secure EDC okay

The Economy and Development Council (EDC), chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has greenlit a total of approximately ₱279.5 billion in major projects during a recent meeting.

The approvals, announced by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), aim to accelerate inclusive growth by investing in human capital, connectivity, and rural productivity.

The largest allocation, P105.7 billion, supports the Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project Phase III (PSIP III) under the Department of Education (DepEd). This initiative will deliver 16,459 new classrooms across 1,095 existing schools in Luzon, with construction scheduled from March 2027 to March 2028.

The project is expected to benefit at least 800,000 learners annually. Adopting a solicited PPP model and a build-lease-and-transfer arrangement, PSIP III aims to mitigate delays common in traditional procurement.

School rooms focused

It will complement DepEd’s ongoing efforts to build around 25,000 classrooms funded through the current national budget.

“Addressing critical infrastructure gaps in education is central to sustaining growth and achieving our development targets. By investing in classrooms that strengthen learning outcomes, we are laying the foundation for higher productivity, stronger human capital, and inclusive growth,” said DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice-Chair Arsenio Balisacan.

In the transport sector, the Council approved the P145.56-billion Central Mindanao High Standard Highway Construction Project-Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay Section, funded through official development assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and overseen by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The project involves constructing 64.7 kilometers of four-lane road connecting Tagoloan and Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental with Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasugong, and Malaybalay in Bukidnon. It includes 47 bridges, nine of them special long-span structures, designed to reduce travel time between the two key areas from 6.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

“Improving connectivity between CDO and Bukidnon is a welcome development as we continuously revitalize Mindanao’s regional economy. Beyond reducing travel time, this project is expected to generate jobs during construction and operation, stimulate local businesses, and attract new investments,” Balisacan noted.