To address a nationwide shortage of 165,000 classrooms, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has directed the Department of Education's infrastructure group to finalize steps to accelerate construction in 2026, as part of a broader goal to build at least 200,000 classrooms over the next five to ten years. Priorities include last-mile schools and temporary learning spaces for disaster-hit communities.
On the last Monday of the year, the DepEd infrastructure group met to prepare various construction modalities for 2026. "In each option, we will ensure that every peso is used correctly," Angara stated in a Facebook post.
Starting January 2026, DepEd will maintain a running list of school sites with available space and no legal issues, prioritizing development with local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations. The department is also seeking LGU help to secure land, as 67% of the country's 40,000 public schools occupy land they do not own. Buildings over 50 years old will be condemned for safety reasons.
A proposed cost cap of slightly over P3 million per classroom accounts for location and logistics variations. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Even during holiday break, we're working to hit full speed by the new year, building comfortable and safe classrooms," Angara added.
During a recent inspection with President Bongbong Marcos, the president pointed out outdated school designs from his father's era. "The expected lifespan is 20-25 years, but many are over 50, built in the 1970s," Angara noted.
