KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The Provincial Government of South Cotabato continues to intensify its education infrastructure program, significantly reducing classroom shortages and improving learning conditions for thousands of students across the province.
In 2019, Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. identified a critical shortage of 600 classrooms, prompting the provincial government to prioritize school infrastructure as a key development agenda.
Since then, sustained investments and strategic partnerships have enabled the province to make substantial progress in addressing this gap.
From 2019 to 2026, a total of 224 classrooms has been constructed province wide. Of these, 144 classrooms were funded through the 20% Local Development Fund (LDF) and the Special Education Fund (SEF), while 80 classrooms were delivered in partnership with the MELCO Resorts Foundation.
The impact of the initiative is already being felt, with approximately 12,000 students benefiting from the newly built classrooms, based on a standard capacity of 50 learners per room. These facilities have helped decongest schools and provide a more conducive learning environment for students.
The provincial government maximized its resources and expanded its reach with each classroom constructed at an average cost of ₱2.5 million—roughly 50 percent lower than the ₱4.7 million to ₱5 million per classroom cost under projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Governor Tamayo has since then underscored the importance of investing in education infrastructure.
“Education remains a top priority of our administration. By building more classrooms at a lower cost, we can reach more communities and provide our learners with a more conducive environment for growth and development. This initiative reflects our commitment to efficient governance and inclusive progress.” – Governor Tamayo said
In addition, Provincial Engineer Lloyd M. Esparagosa, CE, GE emphasized the technical approach behind the program’s success:
“Through strategic planning, value engineering, and strict project monitoring, we have ensured that our classroom constructions meet quality standards while remaining cost-efficient. Our goal is to deliver durable and functional facilities that will serve generations of students.” – Engr. Esparagosa said in an interview.
Further reinforcing this commitment, the provincial government is set to construct an additional ₱50 million three-story, 12-classroom building at Tupi Central School as a grant from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), expanding access to quality education in the municipality of Tupi.
With continued investments and strong institutional oversight, South Cotabato remains on track to close its classroom gap and strengthen the foundation of its education sector, strengthening the thrust of the Tamayo Administration in prioritizing Free Education from elementary to tertiary education in the Province of South Cotabato.
