Senator Bam Aquino voiced his disappointment over the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) report revealing that only 22 classrooms have been completed so far in 2025.
In a Facebook post on Monday, October 20, Aquino said he was disheartened by the agency’s performance this year.
“Nakakadismaya ang pahayag ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na 22 classrooms lang ang naitayo para sa taong 2025,” Aquino began.
According to the senator, the country currently faces a classroom backlog of around 146,000, which could rise to 200,000 by 2028 if the government’s efforts remain sluggish.
“Nasa 146,000 na ang classroom backlog natin. Kung ganito pa rin kabagal ang aksyon, aabot ito sa 200,000 pagsapit ng 2028,” he added.
Aquino also highlighted the importance of his proposed Senate Bill No. 121, or the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Bill, which seeks to fast-track the construction and repair of classrooms nationwide.
“Sa ating panukalang SBN 121 o Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Bill, layon nating mapabilis ang pagpapatayo at pag-aayos ng mga silid-aralan, sa tulong ng mga LGU at sa pakikipagtulungan sa DepEd,” he explained.
The senator likewise thanked DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon for expressing full support for the proposed measure.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon sa kanyang buong suporta sa CAP Bill bilang tugon sa patuloy na kakulangan ng mga silid-aralan sa mga pampublikong paaralan […]” Aquino said.
He ended his statement with a firm call to action: “PASS SBN 121 or the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act NOW!”
Earlier, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon himself acknowledged the department’s slow progress, admitting during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing for the 2026 proposed DPWH budget that the completion rate was alarmingly low.
“For 2025 po, out of 1,700 na dapat gawin, 22 pa lang po ang completed at 882 po ang ongoing. At meron pong 882 na not yet started. So, it’s a very deplorable rate of only 15.43 percent,” Dizon said.