THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said it is tapping local government units to directly participate in classroom construction to address the perennial problem of classroom shortage in public schools.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said this will mark a potential break from the long-standing practice of relying almost exclusively on the Department of Public Works and Highways in the construction of school buildings.
It also comes as the DPWH is embroiled in the raging controversy over multi-billion-peso flood control projects allegedly riddled with irregularities.
Angara said tapping LGUs is one way to accelerate the delivery of school infrastructure and help ease the country’s classroom backlog.
“Every classroom we add brings hope and opportunity to learners. But delays in construction mean children wait longer than they should. That is why we are looking for ways to build faster and smarter, with partners who are closest to the ground,” he said.
Currently, most school building projects are channeled through DPWH, a process that Angara acknowledged faces challenges in speed and efficiency.
To create more options, he said the DepEd is seeking flexibility in the 2026 General Appropriations Act, subject to Congress’ approval, so that LGUs and other partners may be engaged more directly in building classrooms.
Angara said that while LGUs may differ in capacity, the DepEd is considering mechanisms such as an accreditation system to match responsibilities with readiness, as well as possible support windows for low-income LGUs through technical assistance, co-financing, or clustering.
Angara said standardized classroom designs, cost ceilings, and technical specifications set by DepEd will also guide projects to ensure safety and quality nationwide.
Meanwhile, he added that DPWH’s involvement will remain an option where needed, allowing for a more flexible approach that combines national oversight with local initiative.
Last month, Angara pushed for an all-sector effort to end the perennial problem of classroom shortage in public schools in the country.
Angara said the DepEd has pushed for more flexibility in tapping additional implementing actors in its school building program, including private entities in the 2026 National Expenditure Program.
He added that this way, resources can be matched with the right builders, particularly in far-flung and disaster-prone areas where classrooms are most needed.
Angara said LGUs can use its Special Education Fund, while the private sector can contribute through the Public-Private Partnership and Adopt-a-School program.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier emphasized the urgency of the problem in his 4th State of the Nation Address last July, declaring that there is a need to tap the private sector in the construction of 40,000 new classrooms before the end of his administration in 2028.
Angara said the department is working with the private sector to build 15,000 new classrooms by 2027 to ease the congestion in public schools.
Earlier, Angara said the classroom shortage in public schools stood at 165,000 and may take several decades to resolve if the current pace of construction is not addressed.
Since assuming office in July 2024, Angara has secured more than P458 million in private sector commitments, which are expected to fund at least 84 new classrooms and several facility upgrades.
The DepEd will allocate P41.6 billion in next year’s funding for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of classrooms under the Basic Education Facilities Fund.
