It is one of the multiple methods presented by the department to solve the shortage.
On Wednesday, February 11, the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) signed a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) to fast-track the construction of classrooms around the country.
Under the partnership, DepEd will set technical standards, provide classroom designs, and supply the funding, while the LGUs will take the lead in procurement and construction.
The partnership will be supported by the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which allocated PHP85.39 billion for Basic Education Facilities nationwide.
For the first tranche, the government has allocated PHP9.6 billion, with PHP4.1 billion of that amount going to fund the construction of about 1,200 classrooms by provincial governments.
Meanwhile, more than PHP5 billion will fund the delivery of around 2,800 pre-fabricated classrooms by DepEd.
Present during that event was President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who emphasized in his speech that the government aims to build around 4,000 new classrooms nationwide under the first tranche of the agreement.
“Today, we formalized the partnership between the DepEd and the different provinces around the country and it is an effort to make sure that every Filipino student has a safe and decent classroom to learn in,” said Marcos.
He continued, “I have seen many of the struggles that our students, our teachers, and our parents face when having to send their children to school. They are studying and dreaming of a better future in poorly built facilities, cramped spaces, and sometimes no facilities at all.”
As of the latest data that President Marcos read, the classroom shortage is at 145,000 units as of December 2025, down from the over 160,000 reported earlier that year.
“This is the gap that we must address urgently,” with the President emphasizing that the gap cannot wait for another 5 to 10 years to be addressed and the new system will help “take a bite out of that gap.”
He also mentioned that by giving LGUs a greater role in implementation, the process will ne streamlines, with unnecessary delays reduced, and construction of schools accelerated—benefitting teachers, learners, and giving parents “peace of mind.“
TRANSPARENCY
PBBM also emphasized that no project will be turned over without written validation from DepEd confirming compliance with national standards, adding that “full transparency” will be implemented in the execution of the MOA.
In line with that, he also assured that ghost projects and substandard classrooms will have no place in the implementation of the projects.
“Ang sabi ko nga sa kanila, sa lahat, eh sabi ko, papaano ‘yan baka magkaproblema ulit sa ghost project at saka sa substandard? Ang sabi ko, hindi uubra ‘yan pagka sa LGU. Hindi uubra ‘yan dahil ang tao mismo ang kaharap ninyo,” the President Marcos said.
He continued, “Pagka hindi maganda ang gawin ninyong trabaho, sisitahin kayo. Araw-araw kayong – gabi-gabi kayong kakatukin sa bahay ninyo, sasabihin, ayusin ninyo ‘yung problema.“
With the funding, Marcos said the partnership ensures that LGUs are given not only additional responsibilities but also the necessary funding from the national government.
PBBM also reminded officials from LGUs to ensure transparency and accountability in procurement as they assume a greater role in building classrooms, an initiative that remains under national government oversight.
“By giving the LGUs greater role in the implementation, we streamline the process. We reduce delays, and move faster in building schools that our children need,” he said.
BEYOND CLASSROOMS
Aside from building classrooms, the President also emphasized the need to improve internet connectivity in schools.
He noted that currently, almost 34,000 public schools have internet access, with the government looking to reach 14,000 additional classrooms, which will focus on unserved and underserved areas such as far-flung communities.
In addition, PBBM also cited that learning recovery programs under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program are showing improvement in students’ reading and learning abilities. Hence, the administration is planning to expand these programs further.
He also approved amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act as part of priority measures during the recently concluded 3rd Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañan Palace.
“I have pledged for the remainder of this Administration, we will prioritize – first priority will be education,” Marcos underscored.
“It’s only the beginning. We will continue to provide all the support that our children need,” the President also said.