DepEd Eyes 2026 Start for 34,000 Classroom Construction

The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking to start construction of around 34,000 classrooms by 2026, as part of efforts to fulfill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s promise to build 40,000 classrooms before his term ends in 2028. However, questions have been raised regarding the achievability of this target. During a hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations, Representative Edgar Erice questioned Education Secretary Sonny Angara on whether the classroom construction target remained attainable. The DepEd presented a proposed budget of P975.96 billion for fiscal year 2027, which includes allocations for its attached agencies. Under the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) allocation for 2027, Personnel Services would increase by 8.64% to P766.74 billion, while Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) would decrease by 15.94% to P174.32 billion, and Capital Outlay would fall by 67.49% to P32.34 billion. Secretary Angara explained that while DepEd typically receives funding for only about 5,000 classrooms annually, this year a much larger infrastructure allocation of approximately P60 billion has been provided for infrastructure, specifically for new classrooms. This allocation is expected to cover the construction of around 18,000 classrooms. Furthermore, an additional 16,000 classrooms are being considered through a public-private partnership (PPP) that has already been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) or the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). Angara stated, "So, just this year, we may already be able to start 34,000." However, the Secretary acknowledged that even with these efforts, the country's accumulated classroom deficit, which exceeds 140,000, remains a significant challenge. "So it’s still a long way towards the 140-plus thousand classroom deficit that we have accumulated over the years. But definitely, this is the biggest attempt to improve upon the classroom deficit." He emphasized that this represents a departure from the usual pace of classroom construction, with the President and members of Congress making significant efforts to address this long-standing issue. Representative Erice noted that his district alone faces a shortage of about 150 classrooms and expressed hope that the President's promise could at least be fulfilled in Caloocan. The development of educational infrastructure in the Philippines faces challenges related to population growth and access to educational opportunities. Insufficient classroom numbers, particularly in rural and impoverished areas, impact the quality of the learning environment. While this plan is a step towards addressing these issues, a fundamental solution will require further long-term investment and planning. Source: GMA News Philippines