The Department of Education (DepEd) has tapped the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) as an independent observer to monitor the implementation of its multibillion-peso Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed Tuesday, the BCBP will observe key stages of the program, including project development, procurement, implementation and monitoring, and submit recommendations on project execution and governance.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the arrangement is intended to provide independent oversight of the department’s school infrastructure program.

The organization, however, will have no role in procurement decisions, bid evaluations or contract awards.

DepEd said the agreement includes safeguards on conflicts of interest and confidentiality to preserve the integrity of the bidding process.

The move comes as the education sector grapples with a massive classroom shortage.

According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), the country faces a backlog of at least 165,000 classrooms, a figure projected to rise to 219,000 by 2028 if construction fails to keep pace with enrollment growth, aging facilities and disaster-related damage.

EDCOM II also estimated that more than 51,000 classrooms will reach 50 years of age by 2028 and may have to be condemned.

BCBP chairman Luis Jose P. Ferrer said the organization would monitor the implementation of the infrastructure program and submit recommendations where necessary.