Over 50 mayors volunteer to build classrooms as DepEd opens construction to LGUs

More than 50 mayors have expressed willingness to directly build classrooms under a new Department of Education (DepEd) policy that allows local government units (LGUs) to undertake school construction projects, as the country faces a shortage of more than 150,000 classrooms.

In a radio interview, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said more than 50 local chief executives have already expressed willingness to take part in the program, citing transparency and cost efficiency.

“Ito sila Mayor Benji Magalong ng Baguio City, Mayor Joy Belmonte ng Quezon City, Mayor Vico Sotto, Mayor Dada Hataman ng Isabela, Basilan, at over 50 mayors ang kausap namin kahapon na willing sila na silang gagawa at very transparent sila sa costing at feeling nila magagawa nila sa mas mababang halaga ang silid-aralan,” Angara told Super Radyo dzBB Friday.

(These include Mayor Benji Magalong of Baguio City, Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Mayor Vico Sotto, Mayor Dada Hataman of Isabela City, Basilan, and more than 50 mayors who said they are willing to build the classrooms themselves, citing transparency and lower costs.)

Angara said the shift follows consultations with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which currently leads classroom construction but has acknowledged limitations in the number of projects it can deliver.

"So ngayon ang gumagawa ang tanging DPWH lamang. So di naman matitigil ’yan. Pero mismo ang DPWH, nakipagpulong kami ni Secretary Dizon at sabi nila hindi nila makayang itayo ang lampas siguro ng 2,000 na silid-aralan.”

(At present, DPWH is the sole agency building classrooms, and that will continue. But DPWH itself told us that it may only be able to construct around 2,000 classrooms.)

To address the gap, DepEd will allow provinces, cities, and municipalities with sufficient capacity to directly implement classroom construction projects, with funds downloaded from the national government.

“Whether puwede ’tong lungsod, puwede ’tong munisipyo, basta mayroon silang kapasidad na gumawa ng silid-aralan, ibababa na natin ’yung pondo sa kanila. So first time nangyari.”

(Whether it is a city or a municipality, as long as they have the capacity to build classrooms, we will release the funds to them. This is the first time this will happen.”)

Minimum standards, climate-resilient classrooms

Angara said all classrooms built under the expanded program must comply with DepEd’s minimum standards, including size and structural requirements designed to withstand extreme weather.

Construction costs may vary depending on soil conditions and whether the area is earthquake-prone, he added.

“Depende sa lokasyon, ano ang klase, ’yung pundasyon niya. Minsan napapamahal ’yan kapag malambot ang lupa, especially kung earthquake-prone ang lugar.”

(Costs vary depending on the location and foundation, and may increase when the soil is soft or when the area is earthquake-prone.)

Aging and substandard classrooms

Angara said the classroom shortage is worsened by aging school buildings, many of which were constructed decades ago and have exceeded their intended lifespan.

“’Yung disenyo ay panahon pa ng tatay niya, ’yung Marcos-type school building ang tawag. Ang inasahan lang 20 to 25 years, pero over 50 years na po dahil dekada ’70 pa ginawa," he said.

(These classrooms were designed during the time of his father, known as Marcos-type school buildings, intended to last only 20 to 25 years but are now over 50 years old.)

He also acknowledged problems with substandard school facilities.

“Mayroon din kasi nakita namin ’yung ibang itinuturnover na school buildings—walang pintura, walang kuryente, hindi gumagana minsan ’yung tubig sa comfort room.”

(We have seen school buildings being turned over without paint, without electricity, and with water systems in the comfort rooms that sometimes do not work.)

PPPs and LGU counterparts

Angara said DepEd is also exploring public-private partnerships to accelerate classroom construction alongside LGU-led projects.

“Ito ang hybrid implementation ng ating pagtatayo ng mga classroom," he noted.

(This will be a hybrid implementation of classroom construction.)

DepEd further said that the expanded role of LGUs and the private sector aims to speed up classroom construction while ensuring safety, durability, and accountability in the use of public funds. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News