DepEd to regional, division offices: Report on 'ghost,' unfinished school buildings within 15 days

The Department of Education (DepEd) has directed all regional and division offices to submit detailed reports on uncompleted or “ghost” school buildings, stressing accountability in infrastructure projects and the need to ensure safe classrooms for learners.

In a memorandum dated September 12, 2025, Assistant Secretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development and Education Facilities Division Aurelio Paulo R. Bartolome reminded field offices of their duty to uphold transparency following recent findings of irregularities in school construction.

Regional directors, schools division superintendents, district supervisors, and DepEd engineers were specifically tasked to identify and report anomalous cases such as prolonged stoppage of construction, incomplete delivery, or structural defects.

The memo also requires regional offices to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reconcile records of school building projects under its jurisdiction.

DepEd instructed all offices to:

• Identify irregularities in school infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate with DPWH for record reconciliation.
• Submit validated reports using the prescribed template within 15 working days of the memo’s issuance.
• Consolidate findings through regional engineers and send reports to the DepEd Central Office at oas.hrod@deped.gov.ph.

The consolidated reports will be used by the DepEd Central Office to pursue corrective action and demand accountability from responsible parties.

“Submission of these reports will be strictly monitored by the Education Facilities Division to ensure compliance,” the memo stated.

It added that the move aims to prevent unfinished or substandard infrastructure from depriving learners of safe, functional, and adequate classrooms. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News