DepEd taps LGUs to address 165,000-classroom backlog

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Feb. 5, said it will implement a new decentralized strategy in addressing the country's growing classroom shortage by empowering local government units (LGUs) to directly oversee school construction projects.

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, in an interview over DZRH, said the Philippines is currently facing a backlog of around 165,000 classrooms nationwide.

He noted that this backlog has contributed to overcrowded schools, shifting schedules, and strained learning environments—particularly in highly urbanized and fast-growing areas.

To accelerate construction and reduce delays, DepEd will now download funds directly to provincial, city, and municipal governments. This, Angara explained, will allow LGUs to conduct their own procurement processes, manage bidding, and implement projects more efficiently, rather than relying solely on national agencies.

Angara emphasized that this approach aligns with President Marcos' directive that classroom construction should not be handled by just one or two agencies.

“Marami lumalapit ngayon dahilang gusto nga ni Presidente hindi na isa o dalawang ahensya lang ang gumagawa ng mga classroom (Many are approaching us now because the President wants that it's no longer just one or two agencies building classrooms)," Angara said.

Under the new approach, Angara noted that local governments-being closer to communities and aware of school needs-are expected to respond more quickly to infrastructure gaps.

He added that this will significantly shorten construction timelines and improve monitoring of projects on the ground.

According to DepEd, congestion remains most severe in rapidly urbanizing provinces and metropolitan areas, where student populations continue to rise faster than new school facilities can be built.