Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday called on the nation’s mayors to take the lead in school construction, unveiling a new framework that shifts responsibility from the national government to local units to address a staggering 165,000-classroom backlog.

Speaking to more than 200 local chief executives at the Makabagong San Juan Theater, Angara said the agency is recalibrating its strategy. The department is moving away from a system heavily dependent on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), opting instead for a model that empowers local government units as primary implementers.

“When the local government unit leads the implementation, we can more quickly reach the schools that need help the most,” Angara said.

Under the new guidelines, local governments will oversee the entire process from procurement to construction. While they must follow DepEd-standard designs, the local units will be responsible for correcting any construction defects at their own expense.

DepEd will maintain an oversight role by identifying priority school sites, providing technical specifications, and releasing project funds in tranches. Once finished, the buildings will be accepted as DepEd assets.

Angara noted that the policy offers local leaders several infrastructure options beyond traditional classrooms, including “last-mile” schools for isolated areas, the leasing of idle buildings, and public-private partnerships.