MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, February 23, said the country continues to face a classroom deficit of more than 144,000 units, highlighting the urgent need for faster construction nationwide.

Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on nationwide classroom building, Marcos stressed that decades-long timelines for addressing the shortage are no longer acceptable.

“As of January 2026, we have still a classroom shortage of more than 144,758 – to be specific – units,” Marcos said. “We cannot wait for decades, years, to give every student a safe and conducive classroom for effective learning.”

He noted that overcrowded schools and shift schedules are making learning more difficult for students, increasing the teaching burden on educators, and raising concerns for parents.

Under the MOA, city governments will take the lead in procuring, constructing, and managing classrooms, while the Department of Education (DepEd) will set standards and ensure compliance with national requirements. Marcos said more than P85 billion from this year’s national budget has been allocated for Basic Education Facilities.

“Alam naman natin na ang pondo ng taumbayan ay kailangang ingatan kaya malinaw din ang pananagutan sa sistemang itinayo natin dito (We all know that public funds must be safeguarded, which is why accountability is clearly embedded in the system we have established here),” Marcos said.

The funds will be released in three tranches, with a separate trust account exclusively for the project. Local government units must submit monthly and quarterly reports to the DepEd, and no final turnover or payment will occur without DepEd validation.

Marcos urged LGUs to avoid delays and ensure quality in classroom construction. “Tiyakin din natin na ang bawat sentimo na pinaghirapan ng ating mga kababayan ay gagamitin sa tama (Let us also ensure that every cent earned through the hard work of our fellow citizens is spent properly),” he said.

“Dahil hindi lamang tayo nagtatayo ng silid-aralan; nagtatayo tayo ng isang matibay na kinabukasan para sa ating kabataan at para sa ating minamahal na Pilipinas (Because we are not merely building classrooms; we are building a strong future for our youth and for our beloved Philippines),” Marcos added, emphasizing the long-term impact of the initiative on the country’s children.