DepEd Calls Out DPWH for Failing to Build Enough Classrooms
The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed deep disappointment after discovering that only 22 classrooms were completed for 2025 under the previous leadership of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In a statement released on Tuesday, October 21, DepEd said it was unacceptable that so few classrooms were built despite the funds and support already provided by the agency.
Because of this, DepEd announced that starting in 2026, the budget for building classrooms will be directly allocated to local government units (LGUs), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Corps of Engineers, or private partners. The department said it is done with excuses and now wants to ensure that the funds are used properly to address the urgent need for more classrooms nationwide.
To ensure progress, DepEd pledged to complete 40,000 new classrooms by the end of 2028, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive. The agency said it will work closely with reliable partners to make sure the classrooms are completed on time and meet the standards required for quality education.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara also expressed frustration over the issue, saying that DPWH seemed too focused on flood control projects and failed to prioritize the construction of school buildings. He added that this lack of focus has worsened the classroom shortage, affecting both students and teachers across the country.
Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon admitted he was surprised after seeing the actual number of completed classrooms during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing for the 2026 proposed DPWH budget on Monday, October 20. In his report, he confirmed that out of 1,700 planned classroom projects for 2025, only 22 were completed, 882 were still under construction, and another 882 had not yet started. This means only about 15 percent of the projects were finished, showing significant delays and inefficiencies in how school-building projects were implemented.
Related Post: DPWH Finishes Only 22 Classrooms Out of 1,700 Targets