Out of 1,700 Targets, DPWH Finishes Only 22 Classrooms
VINCE DIZON – The secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was visibly surprised to learn that only 22 classrooms had been completed out of the agency’s target of 1,700 for 2025. The revelation came during a Senate Committee on Finance hearing on October 20, which discussed the DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget.
During the hearing, Senator Bam Aquino asked Dizon about the agency’s progress in building classrooms this year. When the numbers were shown, Dizon appeared shocked and confirmed that the figures were accurate, admitting that the result was disappointing.
“For 2025 po, out of 1,700 na dapat gawin, 22 pa lang po ang completed at 882 po ang ongoing. At meron pong 882 na not yet started,” Dizon said, describing the progress as “a very deplorable rate” of only 15.43 percent completion.
The report alarmed lawmakers, especially Senator Aquino, who linked the slow progress to the long-standing problems inside the DPWH. He pointed out that in recent years, the agency had focused more on flood-control projects than on building classrooms, which may have caused the current delay.
“Ito po kasi ‘yong resulta ng mga issue natin with the agency, our issues with flood-control,” Aquino said. “But when you look at our classrooms, 22 completed for 2025, you can’t even explain that. Even just saying that, sumasakit po ‘yong puso ko na 22 lang po ‘yong nagawang classrooms,” he added.
The situation highlights the country’s continuing struggle to provide enough classrooms for students. Despite the DPWH’s big role in building schools, the low completion rate shows serious problems in planning, priorities, and use of funds.
Lawmakers emphasized that while flood-control systems are important, building classrooms should not be ignored—especially when many students still study in crowded or temporary classrooms. The Senate plans to review the DPWH’s budget and project plans to make sure education gets more attention in the coming years.
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