MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino expressed dismay over the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) report that it has completed only 22 classrooms for 2025, far below its target of 1,700.

“You can’t explain that. Even just saying it, sumasakit iyong puso ko na 22 lang ang nagawang classroom,” Aquino said during the DPWH budget hearing after Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed the figure.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, warned that if the slow pace continues, the country’s classroom backlog could worsen in the coming years.

“Ang estimated current classroom backlog natin ay 146,000. By 2028, if we continue at this rate, aabot tayo ng 200,000,” he said.

Dizon said the DPWH is investigating the causes of delay and is exploring ways to speed up classroom construction.

He also expressed full support for Aquino’s proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which was recently certified as a priority measure by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The bill seeks to address the classroom shortage in public schools.

“We are in full support of this measure, especially now na dalawampu’t dalawa pa lang ang nagagawa ng departamento ngayong taon. Kailangan po talaga natin ang tulong,” Dizon said, adding that the agency is looking into partnerships with local government units to help accelerate construction.

“At this rate, it’s virtually impossible na magawa ng DPWH itong kailangan nating mga classrooms,” he added.

Under the CAP Act, classroom construction would be decentralized to allow local government units and qualified non-government organizations to help build classrooms that meet the Department of Education’s standards within their jurisdictions.