DepEd eyes start of construction of 34,000 classrooms in 2026 — Angara

The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking to start construction of around 34,000 classrooms this year, as a lawmaker questioned whether the administration can fulfill its promise to build 40,000 classrooms before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028.

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on DepEd’s proposed 2027 budget on Monday, Representative Edgar Erice asked Education Secretary Sonny Angara if the classroom target remained achievable.

On Monday, DepEd presented a P975.96-billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2027, including allocations for its attached agencies, before the House Committee on Appropriations, according to the department’s press release. It is asking for an additional P145.19 billion for critical DepEd programs not funded under the 2027 NEP.

Under the proposed NEP allocation, Personnel Services would rise 8.64% to P766.74 billion, while MOOE would decline 15.94% to P174.32 billion and Capital Outlay would fall 67.49% to P32.34 billion.

“Meron pong pangako, magtatayo ng 40,000 classrooms bago matapos ang termino sa 2028. Kaya pa po ba ito?,” Erice asked.

(There is a promise to build 40,000 classrooms before the term ends in 2028. Can this still be achieved?

Angara said DepEd typically receives funding for around 5,000 classrooms per year, but the department has been given a much larger infrastructure allocation this year.

“Pero for this year, because nga dito na sa historic budget na binigay ninyo po sa amin, we have around 60 billion for infra, classrooms, new classrooms. So that will represent around 18,000 classrooms, Your Honor,” he noted.

(But for this year, because of the historic budget that you gave us, we have around 60 billion for infrastructure, classrooms, and new classrooms. So that will represent around 18,000 classrooms, Your Honor.)

Angara added that another 16,000 classrooms are being considered through a public-private partnership (PPP) that he said had already been approved by NEDA or the DepDev-ICC.

“So dito pa lang sa taong ito, mauumpisahan na po siguro yung 34,000.”

(So just this year, we may already be able to start 34,000.)

Angara acknowledged that the effort remains far from addressing the country’s overall classroom shortage, which he said has accumulated to more than 140,000 classrooms.

“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.”

(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 mentioned that the scale of the current effort represented a departure from the usual pace of classroom construction.

“So hindi siya business as usual, Your Honor, Madam Chair. At talagang nag-e-effort po si Pangulo at ang mga miyembro ng Kongreso to solve this years-old problem.”

(So it is not business as usual, Your Honor, Madam Chair. And the President and members of Congress are really making an effort to solve this years-old problem.)

Erice, meanwhile, SAID that the classroom shortage in his district was around 150 and expressed hope that the President’s promise could at least be fulfilled in Caloocan.

“Alright po bago mang 2028, baka matupad ni Pangulo yung kanyang pangako, sa Caloocan man lang.”

(Alright, before 2028, perhaps the President can fulfill his promise, at least in Caloocan.) –NB, GMA News