Palace: LGUs in, DPWH out in classroom construction

President Marcos wants local government units (LGUs) to handle classroom construction funds, Malacañang said yesterday.

- By HELEN FLORES

An agreement to accelerate classroom construction nationwide will be signed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd) and LGUs, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

Funds will be downloaded to LGUs to implement the construction, while the DPWH and DepEd will oversee and monitor progress, she explained.

Around 2,370 classrooms are being targeted for completion by next year.

Enough is enough

Funds for classroom construction in 2026 should no longer be given to the DPWH after completing only 22 facilities this year, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stressed.

"Enough is enough," he said, as the country grapples with widespread corruption in infrastructure deals.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon earlier admitted that the DPWH built only 22 of the 1,700 classrooms targeted for completion this year.

"The budget should be returned to the DepEd in 2026," Angara said.

"It is unacceptable that only 22 classrooms were completed under the previous DPWH leadership despite the funding and assistance from the DepEd," he added.