LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — For students who have grown accustomed to unusually early or late school hours because of a lack of classrooms, a major change is now on the horizon.
Rawis Integrated School in Legazpi City has received a newly completed two-story building containing eight classrooms, a project expected to allow the school to abandon its current shifting arrangement and return to a more regular class schedule.
The new facility was inaugurated on August 20, 2026, according to the Philippine News Agency report published by Inquirer.net. It was funded through the Department of Education’s Basic Education Facilities Fund, with an allocation of approximately ₱40 million.
The project is expected to benefit a school community of nearly 1,000 learners, along with 36 teachers and five non-teaching personnel.
From 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. shifts to a regular schedule
The classroom shortage had forced Rawis Integrated School to implement two shifts.
Students currently attend either the 6 a.m. to noon schedule or the noon to 6 p.m. shift, a setup that can mean some learners arrive at school unusually early while others finish their classes late in the day.
School principal Rommel Bachiller said the additional rooms are expected to make it possible for the school to return to its regular schedule once the classrooms are ready for use.
The planned schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the morning session and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the afternoon session.
The new rooms will also address the school’s so-called emergency classes and provide dedicated spaces for learners who previously had to share limited facilities.
More classrooms arrive as enrollment continues to grow
The Rawis Integrated School project comes as Albay continues to confront the need for additional learning spaces.
Earlier this year, a separate agreement between the Albay provincial government and DepEd covered plans for 29 additional classrooms in various municipalities across the province for School Year 2026–2027.
The planned projects included classrooms in Bacacay, Malilipot, Malinao, Sto. Domingo, Camalig, Manito, Rapu-Rapu, Jovellar, Libon, Oas and Polangui.
The wider classroom push is significant because the shortage of school facilities can have a direct effect on how schools organize classes. When available rooms cannot accommodate all learners simultaneously, schools may resort to shifting arrangements, temporary learning spaces or other measures to keep classes running.
A Philippine Information Agency report published earlier in August likewise reported that 48 newly constructed classrooms were expected to benefit more than 7,000 learners in Albay, with the projects aimed at creating safer and more conducive learning environments and reducing the need for shifting schedules.
Grade expansion adds pressure for more learning spaces
Rawis Integrated School is also expanding its grade offerings.
The school already offers Grades 7 and 8, while Grade 9 is expected to be added in the next school year, further highlighting the importance of having enough classrooms as enrollment and grade levels increase.
Bachiller emphasized that classroom demand is likely to remain a continuing concern because the number of students grows every year.
The challenge is therefore not simply about constructing one building. For schools experiencing rising enrollment, maintaining enough classrooms requires continuing investment in school infrastructure.
A small change that could make a big difference
For families, the significance of the new building goes beyond concrete walls and additional rooms.
Ending the shifting schedule could mean students no longer have to report as early as 6 a.m. or remain in school until 6 p.m. simply because classrooms have to be shared between batches.
It could also give teachers and school administrators more flexibility in organizing instruction while providing students with a more predictable school day.
The Rawis project is therefore more than another school-building turnover. It illustrates how adding physical learning spaces can directly change the daily experience of students and teachers.
And as Albay continues building additional classrooms across the province, the bigger question remains: Can the pace of construction keep up with the growing number of students who need a classroom of their own?
For Rawis Integrated School, at least, the answer is beginning to take shape—with eight new classrooms and the prospect of leaving shifting schedules behind.
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