As of July 23, 2026,The Department of Education (DepEd) has committed to launching classroom construction projects across 100 percent of provinces, 87 percent of cities, and 75 percent of municipalities nationwide within the year.
The assurance was given during a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education as officials tackled the country’s persistent shortage of educational facilities.
₱67-Billion Budget Allocated for School Facilities
A total budget of ₱67 billion has been earmarked to fund school infrastructure projects, which include:
- New classroom builds in priority areas
- Last Mile Schools in remote locations
- Learning continuity spaces
- Acquisition of existing buildings
DepEd Undersecretary Filemon Javier confirmed that nearly ₱24 billion has already been released to the department. However, funds will only be downloaded to local government units (LGUs) after resolutions to award the initial tranche are finalized.
Multi-Agency Construction Strategy
To expedite completion, DepEd will utilize several implementation modalities:
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
- Local Government Units (LGUs)
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) & NGOs
- Direct DepEd Management
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) (Scheduled to start mid-to-late 2027 under separate funding)
DPWH Undersecretary Lara Marisse Esquibil stated that DPWH aims to complete 5,000 classrooms this year using funds from 2025 and earlier budgets. An additional 6,000 classrooms are slated for construction under the 2026 national budget.
Local Officials Raise Delays and Transparency Concerns
Despite national plans, several local chief executives expressed frustration over delayed implementation on the ground.
“It’s puzzling that past the mid-year mark, I haven’t seen any DepEd projects implemented in my area. It’s disappointing because we lost the dry season, which is the ideal time for construction,” said Infanta, Quezon Mayor Lord Arnel Ruanto.
Similarly, Paete, Laguna Mayor Ronald Cosico noted that two schools in his municipality have not seen a single new school building constructed in over 30 years.
Conversely, Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina reported progress, confirming that construction for 66 classrooms began on July 6 after funds were successfully turned over.
Tackling the 160,000 Classroom Gap: A “10-Year Odyssey”
Addressing local concerns, DepEd appealed for patience, citing the massive scale of the national shortage. The current classroom gap stands at an estimated 160,000 units, a figure that could rise following validation.
Senate Committee Chairperson Senator Bam Aquino emphasized that realistic annual benchmarks are essential to solving the problem.
“The gap is 160,000, and it could be even higher. This is really a ten-year odyssey. What matters is that we remain consistent, effective, and steadily funded every year,” Aquino said, adding that resolving the backlog could span across three presidential administrations.
Key Senate Recommendations & Directives:
- Public Transparency: Senator Aquino directed DepEd to publish the full list of planned classroom projects on its official website to keep LGUs informed and allow local feedback. DepEd agreed to comply and improve communication channels.
- Accelerating MOAs: DepEd was urged to speed up Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signings. Currently, only 258 out of roughly 1,400 LGUs have signed MOAs.
- Prioritizing Congested Areas: The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) recommended prioritizing construction in heavily congested schools, noting a direct correlation between overcrowding and higher rates of campus bullying and violence.
- Budget Utilization: Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian reminded agencies that efficient fund utilization will serve as a crucial gauge during upcoming budget deliberations.
To ensure accountability and track real-time progress across provinces, a dedicated technical working group (TWG) will be established to monitor all classroom construction projects. / Clarence Pacaña
