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Marcos Administration Orders Funds to be Funneled to Local Government Units for Classroom Construction

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Philippines is struggling with an acute shortage of classrooms, with over 165,000 students currently in overcrowded or inadequate facilities. Despite a target of 1,700 new classrooms in 2025, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has only completed 22, leaving 882 ongoing and 882 unstarted projects. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) attributes this to the government's slow pace of construction, stating that the target is insufficient to address the shortage, which is projected to grow to 200,000 by 2028.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Marcos administration has ordered the funneling of funds directly to local government units (LGUs) for classroom construction, in an effort to expedite the process and address the shortage.
  • The decision comes after a Senate hearing where Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon admitted the DPWH's "very deplorable performance" in completing only 22 classrooms out of 1,700 target for 2025.
  • The target of 1,700 classrooms is not enough to address the shortage, with the ACT estimating a shortfall of over 160,000 classrooms.
  • The DPWH has made a few projects, citing a "heavy workload" and "late validation and costing submission, and leadership changes" as reasons for the delays.
  • Education Secretary Sonny Angara attributed the delays to the DPWH's focus on flood control projects, with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) calling out the government's "true priorities".
  • President Marcos has committed to build 40,000 classrooms before he steps down in 2028, with the DepEd and DPWH having completed 19,250 classrooms nationwide from July 2022 to August 2025.
  • The DPWH is expected to complete 200 classrooms before the end of the year, 822 classrooms by the second quarter of 2026, and 2,000 classrooms by the third quarter of 2026.

Statistics:

  • Over 165,000 students are currently in overcrowded or inadequate facilities.
  • The target of 1,700 new classrooms in 2025 is projected to be insufficient to address the shortage, with the ACT estimating a shortfall of over 160,000 classrooms.
  • The DPWH has completed only 22 classrooms out of 1,700 target for 2025.
  • The department currently has 882 ongoing and 882 unstarted classroom projects.
  • The President has committed to build 40,000 classrooms before he steps down in 2028.
  • From July 2022 to August 2025, the DepEd and the DPWH completed 19,250 classrooms nationwide, reducing the backlog by 11.6 percent from 165,443 to 146,193.
  • The government is expected to complete 200 classrooms before the end of the year, 822 classrooms by the second quarter of 2026, and 2,000 classrooms by the third quarter of 2026.

Sources:

  • "President orders funds for LGUs to build classrooms" by Philippine Daily Inquirer
  • "DPWH completes only 22 classrooms, misses 2025 target" by BusinessWorld
  • "Teacher union urges Marcos admin to address 'acute' classroom shortage" by Rappler
  • "DepEd propose P912-B budget for 2026, includes P63-B for classroom construction" by GMA News

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