EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara recently met with House Deputy Speaker and Zambales 1st District Representative Jay Khonghun to discuss the priority needs of schools in the First District of Zambales.

Among the matters discussed during the Secretary’s courtesy call at the House of Representatives were the shortage of classrooms, support for teachers, and lack of learning resources.

They also discussed the improvement of school infrastructure in Olongapo City, and Subic, Castillejos, and San Marcelino towns.

Khonghun said his dialogue with Angara was productive, and both officials assured stronger coordination to address the urgent needs of students in the district.

“Education remains our strongest investment for the next generation,” Khonghun said, emphasizing the importance of quality, accessible, and future-ready education for every student in their district.

He said that Angara, for his part, expressed DepEd’s readiness to help fund the necessary projects in coordination with the congressman’s office to ensure that school deficiencies in Zambales’ First District are prioritized.

At present, DepEd continues to face a significant classroom shortage nationwide, a long-standing challenge in the education sector. Because of this, coordination between the agency and lawmakers is crucial to accelerate budget allocation and the implementation of solutions at the local level.

The two officials assured that schools in the First District of Zambales will not be neglected and that they will continue to push for programs that will strengthen the quality of education in the region. 