Cebu lacks over 3,000 classrooms

DEPED-7 PREPARES FOR SCHOOL OPENING

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As learners prepare to return to school on June 16, the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) is once again bracing for a massive classroom shortage across the region.

According to DepEd-7 officials, Cebu Province is bearing the brunt of the crisis, with over 3,000 classrooms still lacking.

Nationally, classroom backlogs have reached a staggering 165,000, according to recent reports.

During a press conference on Wednesday, June 4, DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez highlighted the worsening infrastructure problem, citing both natural disasters and funding constraints.

“We're still recovering from calamities like Typhoon Odette. Many school buildings have yet to be repaired,” Jimenez said.

He also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor, noting that budget allocations originally intended for classroom construction had to be diverted for emergency response.

“So the problems just piled up,” he added.