With the opening of School Year 2026–2027 only days away, Sen. Win Gatchalian said the government must accelerate the construction of new classrooms to help ease the learning crisis caused by the country’s long-standing classroom shortage.
Gatchalian said the 2026 national budget provides P67.931 billion for the construction of classrooms, including technical-vocational laboratories. The funding is expected to support the building of up to 24,527 classrooms, benefiting as many as 4.6 million learners.
The push comes as the Department of Education continues to confront a massive backlog, which it estimated at 147,000 classrooms as of July 2025.
Gatchalian said the classroom program could move faster this year because the 2026 budget gives the DepEd more flexibility in implementing construction projects.
While the Department of Public Works and Highways previously had the sole mandate to build classrooms, a special provision in the 2026 budget now allows DepEd to enter into agreements with local government units, other government agencies, and civil society organizations to help deliver the needed facilities.
“Kung mas maraming LGUs at iba’t ibang sektor na makakatulong sa pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan, mas mapapabilis natin ang pag-abot sa target ngayong taon hanggang sa mapunan natin ang kakulangan sa mga silid-aralan,” Gatchalian said.
He said tapping more partners could help ensure that classroom construction keeps pace with the needs of public schools, particularly as millions of learners return to campuses for the new school year.