Manila, April 18 -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to start reconstructing the Basco Central School, a heritage school in Batanes, this year.

According to a news release on Saturday, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon made the commitment during his visit to the province on Friday.

"This is a heritage school, very historically significant. But what's really sad is that it's been like this for more than a year," he said, referring to the school that was gutted by fire in March 2025.

"So, we have committed to the Governor (Ronald Aguto Jr.) and to our teachers that we will begin the reconstruction of our school here in Basco."

Currently, the school's 635 students are using makeshift classrooms, which are not conducive...