Senator Bam Aquino on Thursday pressed the Department of Education (DepEd) to hasten the release of ₱69 billion allocated for classroom construction to local government units (LGUs), warning that further delays could worsen the country’s severe classroom shortage.
“To be honest, medyo nababagalan ako ng konti. I was hoping by the end of March, naka-download na ‘yung pera so that the LGUs can start building during the summertime,” Aquino said in a television interview.
He stressed that funds must be released in time for construction to begin before the rainy season in June.
Aquino cited findings from the flood control project probe, noting that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed only 99 classrooms in 2025, far below its target of 1,700 units.
The senator warned that delays could stall school infrastructure projects as the country grapples with an estimated 165,443-classroom backlog. A report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education projected the shortage could balloon to 219,000 classrooms by 2028 if construction is not accelerated.
On February 11, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allocated ₱9.6 billion for around 4,000 new classrooms and sought LGU partnerships to fast-track building.
Aquino reiterated his proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program, already approved by the Senate, which authorizes LGUs and qualified NGOs to construct classrooms under DepEd standards.
“Yung tamang paraan is that we allow LGUs to build at the same time. Hindi siya naka-focus sa isang agency lang,” he said, referring to DPWH.