DBM approves P28 B for construction of classrooms

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved P28.056 billion for the construction of classrooms and other basic education facilities next year, as the classroom shortage ballooned to 165,000 nationwide.

- By BELLA CARIASO

According to the National Expenditure Program, of the DepEd's proposed P928.5-billion budget for 2026, P13.245 billion will be allotted for the construction, replacement and completion of kindergarten, secondary school buildings and technical-vocational laboratories.

Another P2 billion will fund medium-rise school buildings; P56 million for Alternative Learning System community learning centers; P6.136 billion for school building repairs; P2.65 billion for school desks and P1.3 billion for school electrification.

A Senate basic education hearing chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino earlier revealed that the severe shortage forces thousands of schools into multi-shift schedules, affecting learning, especially for Kinder to Grade 3 students. Many schools still use classrooms built in the 1960s, some of which are condemned or serve as evacuation centers.

To help address the shortage, the Second Congressional Commission on Education has recommended partnering with local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) to accelerate construction and standardize costs, in line with the DBM and DepEd's plan to include a special provision in the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act that would allow DepEd to collaborate with other agencies in building classrooms.

Teachers buck PPP However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Friday rejected DepEd's plan to open classroom construction to LGUs, NGOs and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), arguing it would further privatize public education.