The Department of Education (DepEd) reaffirmed its commitment on Thursday, July 23, to eliminate the nationwide classroom shortage, highlighting growing partnerships with local government units (LGUs) to drive infrastructure expansion.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Basic Education, led by Senator Bam Aquino, Education Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Filemon Ray Javier detailed sustainable, long-term strategies aimed at clearing the backlog.
He noted that the agency’s infrastructure rollout now reaches every province, 87% of cities, and 75% of municipalities—representing 1,118 out of 1,493 local towns across the country.
Javier emphasized that resolving the classroom deficit has remained a top priority since Education Secretary Sonny Angara took the helm two years ago.
“For a problem of this magnitude, the solution must be both permanent and well-planned,” Javier reported to the Senate.
“We assure this Committee that we remain steadfast in ensuring that we deliver the promised classrooms at the soonest possible time. We needed to undergo delicate and deliberate steps in ensuring that the solution to this problem is permanent,” he added.
For Fiscal Year 2026, DepEd has deployed ₱49.8 billion from its ₱67.9-billion infrastructure budget to build an initial batch of 14,601 classrooms. This funding includes:
- ₱22.35 billion for LGU-managed projects (6,353 classrooms)
- ₱20.85 billion via the Department of Public Works and Highways (6,134 classrooms)
- ₱3.5 billion for DepEd Learning Continuity Spaces (1,622 classrooms)
- ₱3 billion for non-government partners, civil society groups, and Last Mile Schools (515 classrooms)
Javier shared that 209 LGUs are currently progressing through various procurement phases. Notices to Proceed have been granted in Mountain Province and Biliran, while Ilocos Sur and Nueva Ecija have issued Resolutions to Award.
”Classroom construction projects are moving forward, and the Department is intentional about thorough preparation at the outset to ensure the honest use of public funds for the benefit of our learners,” Javier told the Senate panel.
To prevent procedural bottlenecks, DepEd audited over 47,972 original land records to confirm property titles and buildable space. The agency also stationed an engineer alongside four technical staffers in every Schools Division Office to validate and digitize property documents for future construction.
Looking forward, DepEd is building capacity by targeting 16,000 classrooms under the Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP3), alongside leasing and property acquisition plans to secure 1,000 additional units in heavily populated regions like Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.