MANILA— The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to align classroom allocations with actual school needs, after finding that several municipalities with the largest classroom shortages received fewer facilities than required while others were allocated more than their estimated deficits.

In its analysis of DepEd’s planned 2026 classroom allocations, EDCOM 2 found that only 45.2% of the 332 local government units (LGUs) with the largest estimated classroom shortages were also among the top recipients of planned allocations.

The findings were raised during the Senate Committee on Finance briefing on DepEd’s proposed 2027 budget on October 16, where EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Sen. Bam Aquino called on DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to accelerate classroom construction and ensure that allocations result in completed facilities.

DepEd has established multiple channels for classroom construction under a special provision in the 2026 General Appropriations Act, including DPWH-led projects, partnerships with provincial and city governments, civil society organizations, and public-private partnership programs. The department has targeted the construction of 18,950 classrooms this year.

“We commend DepEd’s extraordinary efforts in mobilizing different routes for classroom construction. However we also highlight the need for strategic and responsive allocations to ensure that these resources go where they are most needed,” EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark R. Yee said.

The commission found that seven of the 10 municipalities with the highest funding for classroom construction in 2026 received allocations exceeding their estimated shortages, based on 2023 data.

Maragondon, Cavite, for instance, was allocated 272 classrooms despite an estimated shortage of only 64. Meanwhile, Tanza received 448 classrooms against a shortage of 869, while Naic was allocated 356 despite a deficit of 631.

Classroom allocations also varied according to municipal income classification. Only 55% of fifth-class municipalities received allocations under the 2026 program, compared with 91% of first-class municipalities.

Of the 66 fifth-class municipalities, 30 received no allocation despite a combined shortage of 356 classrooms. Six of these municipalities are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Hadji Muhammad in Basilan, Lumbaca-Unayan and Sultan Dumalondong in Lanao del Sur, and Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi, which together have a shortage of 163 classrooms, as well as the Special Geographic Area municipalities of Old Kaabakan and Pahamuddin.

EDCOM 2 estimates that 68,147 additional classrooms are needed to address congestion in 4,492 schools with more than 50 learners per classroom. Another 52,871 classrooms are needed to eliminate double and triple shifting in 1,889 schools, while 6,808 more are required in 2,677 schools substantially reliant on makeshift classrooms.

The estimates are based on school-year 2024–2025 and 2023–2024 data.

Delays in construction

Beyond allocation disparities, EDCOM 2 raised concerns over delays in classroom construction, particularly in projects implemented by the DPWH.

Of the ₱21.45-billion allocation for 6,000 DPWH-led classrooms under the 2026 program, only ₱1.87 billion covering 533 classrooms had reached the award or near-award stage during the hearing. Another ₱7 billion, covering approximately 2,000 classrooms, had been advertised for procurement.

DPWH Undersecretary Engr. Lara Esquibil attributed implementation challenges to repeated failed biddings and higher construction costs amid rising fuel prices.

Aquino questioned whether funds not yet transferred to the DPWH could be redirected to implementation arrangements that were progressing faster, subject to applicable budgetary and legal requirements.

“Ang sabi natin at the end of the year, che-check natin anong kabayo ‘yung pinakamabilis at efficient. PPP ba ito? DPWH-led ba ito, or DepEd and LGU-led? Nandito na tayo sa end of the year,” Aquino said. “Doon natin siya ilagay sa kabayong tumatakbo. Huwag na doon sa kabayong hindi gumagalaw.”

Public tracking of classroom projects

Aquino also asked DepEd to release the complete list of classroom construction sites for 2026 so communities can monitor projects in their areas. EDCOM 2 is developing a classroom tracker to improve public access to information on construction progress.

“EDCOM 2 is building a tracker for this… para even ‘yung completion ng mga classroom na ito, maging transparent rin sa ating mga kababayan,” Aquino said. “Klaro sa taong bayan, klaro sa amin, saan napunta itong Php 68 billion.”

“We can also publish it, so not just the mayors but even the parents and the children, alam nila kung saan itatayo ang mga classroom na ito,” he added.

For 2027, the National Expenditure Program proposes ₱30.55 billion for classroom construction, while DepEd has requested an additional ₱23.5 billion. The proposed funding covers 2,385 new classrooms, 69 Last Mile School buildings, 500 Learning Continuity Spaces, and repairs to 3,500 classrooms, among other projects.