CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Bam Aquino is turning his attention to Northern Mindanao’s pressing education needs, highlighting the region’s shortage of 10,800 classrooms and urging faster action under his Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Aquino emphasized that improving learning spaces must take priority over early political speculation about 2028 elections.

“Darating ang 2028, pero ngayon, mas mahalaga ang mga problema ng taumbayan — lalo na ang kakulangan sa paaralan,” he said in a press advisory.

Northern Mindanao’s classroom gap

According to the Department of Education in Region 10 (DepEd-10), Northern Mindanao faces a significant infrastructure deficit. 

Bukidnon accounts for the largest need with 3,343 classrooms, roughly one-third of the regional backlog. 

Cagayan de Oro City requires around 600 additional classrooms, which has forced schools to implement double shifts to manage overcrowding. 

Oroquieta City reported the smallest shortage at 75 classrooms.

DepEd-10 officials said the lack of classrooms directly affects students’ learning, as crowded rooms and split schedules limit instructional time and strain both teachers and learners.

CAP Act offers faster solutions

The CAP Act (Senate Bill No. 1482), recently approved by the Senate with a 22-0 vote, allows local government units (LGUs) and qualified non-government organizations to lead classroom construction in their areas, as long as projects meet DepEd standards. 

By decentralizing construction efforts, the law aims to bypass bureaucratic delays and deliver classrooms more quickly to communities that need them most.

Aquino stressed that the law is more than just an infrastructure program. 

“Each classroom built is an investment in students, teachers, and the future of communities,” he said, noting that faster construction would ease congestion and improve learning conditions across Northern Mindanao.

Other legislative priorities Aquino is pursuing include the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act and reforms to the school feeding program, which complement efforts to improve the overall education environment in the region.

Aquino also briefly addressed political speculation, firmly shutting down rumors of a 2028 vice-presidential run alongside Vice President Sara Duterte. 

He reiterated that the country’s urgent educational and economic crises must take precedence over premature politicking.