Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian stated that the 2026 national budget will significantly accelerate classroom construction to address the persistent shortage of basic education facilities nationwide. Under the enrolled 2026 budget measure, PHP 85 billion has been allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms. Of this amount, PHP 65.9 billion will fund the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten to secondary school buildings, as well as technical-vocational laboratories. 'We are not just allocating a bigger fund for building classrooms, but we are also ensuring its acceleration through the active participation of various sectors,' Gatchalian said. As chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian noted that the 2026 budget grants the Department of Education greater flexibility in choosing construction modalities, including public-private partnerships. To allow simultaneous classroom construction nationwide, DepEd may enter into memoranda of agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways, qualified local government units, civil society and non-government organizations, as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corps of Engineers. DepEd aims to construct 165,000 classrooms to address the existing backlog and accommodate rising student enrollment. The initiative will be carried out in partnership with local governments, the private sector, and the DPWH.
