Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday called for stronger collaboration with the private sector to fast-track critical education reforms such as classroom construction.

Angara highlighted the essential role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in leveraging private investments and expertise to address infrastructure and learning gaps.

"This administration has clearly set very clear signals that they want to work in the private sector and that they need the private sector. And I think another change that President Marcos has initiated is that we want human development and human infrastructure at the core of the PPPs, not just physical development, not just building structures,” Angara said during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum 2026 held at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

With a total project cost of P105.7 billion, DepEd is set to construct more than 16,000 new classrooms in high-need areas nationwide through the PPP for School Infrastructure Program III (PSIP III). The initiative forms part of the Marcos administration’s push to modernize school infrastructure and close critical learning gaps.

Under a Build-Lease-and-Transfer (BLT) modality, private partners will finance and construct the classrooms, ensuring on-time delivery and proper maintenance throughout the concession period. Payments will be made through availability payments sourced from DepEd’s annual budget.

To further accelerate implementation, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. issued Presidential Directive PBBM-2025-1355 on January 21, 2025, directing DepEd, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and the PPP Center to establish a Green Lane for education PPPs. The directive shortened approval, bidding, and review periods by an average of two months per project stage.

Angara also emphasized that PPP undertakings should be assessed not only by whether the project was delivered on time and within budget, but by whether it creates jobs, develops skills, fosters innovation, and improves quality of life.

The ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum 2026 served as kick-off for the ASEAN 2026 business and investment initiatives under the Philippines’ Chairship.

The event brought together editors, economic opinion leaders, policymakers, and business leaders to align the Philippines’ trade and investment priorities with the country’s Priority Economic Deliverables for ASEAN 2026.