The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued updated construction and procurement guidelines designed to make all future public basic education facilities fully accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and structurally resilient against extreme natural disasters.
Under DepEd Order 022, which establishes the Enhanced Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications starting Fiscal Year 2027, all upcoming campus developments must incorporate universal design features. Mandatory infrastructure additions include standardized wheelchair ramps with a maximum 1:20 incline, non-skid surfaces, tactile paving with warning blocks for visually impaired students, and accessible sanitation facilities fitted with safety handrails.
Highlighting the overarching vision behind the updated building rules, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated, “In line with President Marcos Jr.’s vision of an inclusive learning environment, these standards ensure that our schools respect learner dignity, protect their health, and welcome every Filipino child without exception”.
Beyond accessibility modifications, the framework establishes enhanced structural engineering requirements to protect school communities from climate hazards. New facility blueprints mandate that buildings be constructed to withstand super typhoon winds reaching up to 340 kilometers per hour and survive major magnitude 8.0 earthquakes. The directive also introduces standardized 63-square-meter classrooms capped at 40 students, minimum 2.7-meter ceiling heights for optimal cross-ventilation, and lead-safe ergonomic furniture utilizing at least 20 percent sustainable bamboo components.
Angara emphasized that establishing clear nationwide benchmarks will streamline public infrastructure delivery moving forward. “Having one unified standard makes it easier for our partners and project engineers to build right the first time. Proper airflow, ergonomic seats, and barrier-free pathways are not luxury add-ons, but basic prerequisites for effective learning,” Angara said.