Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon appeared visibly surprised upon learning the low number of completed classrooms under the agency’s projects for 2025.
During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget held on Monday, October 20, Senator Bam Aquino asked Dizon to provide the latest figures on the classrooms constructed by the department this year.
“Ilan na po ang nagawang classroom ng DPWH for 2025 at ilan po ‘yong projected na magagawa ninyo for 2025?” Aquino inquired.
Dizon was taken aback upon seeing the figures presented during the session.
“Totoo ba ito? Ang baba nito, a,” he remarked in disbelief.
According to Dizon, only 22 classrooms have been completed so far out of the 1,700 total projects planned for 2025.
“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,” Dizon said.
“So, it’s a very deplorable rate of only 15.43%,” he added.
Aquino pointed out that this figure reflects the ongoing problems linked to the agency’s flood-control projects, which have been under scrutiny for alleged irregularities.
“Ito po kasi ‘yong resulta ng mga issue natin with the agency, our issues with flood-control. Naging priority ang flood-control for the past year as a national infrastructure…” Aquino said.
“But when you look at our classrooms, 22 completed for 2025, you can’t even explain that. Even just saying that, sumasakit po ‘yong puso ko na 22 lang po ‘yong nagawang classrooms,” he lamented.