Philippines to Break Ground on 34,000 New Classrooms This Year

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to break ground on more than 34,000 new classrooms this year, a significant push to address the country's persistent backlog in school facilities. Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced that the construction will be split between 18,000 classrooms under the DepEd and 16,000 through public-private partnerships (PPP). "This is the biggest attempt to make a dent… to improve upon the classroom deficit," Angara told lawmakers, emphasizing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s commitment to resolving this long-standing issue. He added that the President is "really making an effort to solve this years-old problem." The Philippines currently faces an estimated deficit of 140,000 classrooms. President Marcos had previously pledged that his administration would build 40,000 classrooms to address this shortage. The government has earmarked approximately P60 billion for this ambitious construction program. The urgency of the situation is underscored by warnings from the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which has cautioned that the classroom shortage might intensify in the coming years. Projections indicate that by 2028, an estimated 51,222 classrooms will reach the 50-year mark, necessitating their condemnation or replacement. This initiative aims to mitigate the impact of the classroom deficit, which has led to overcrowded learning environments and compromised educational quality in various parts of the country. While this represents a substantial effort, the long-term resolution of the classroom shortage will require sustained commitment and further investment.