Marcos orders fast-track classroom construction

Malacañang announced last week that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd), and local government units (LGUs) will join forces to speed up the construction of classrooms across the country.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the initiative follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide direct funding to LGUs to help resolve the persistent classroom shortage.

“In line with President Marcos’ vision to give LGUs direct access to funding for classroom construction, the DPWH, DepEd, and LGUs will soon sign a memorandum of agreement to implement this plan,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

The President, she added, has stressed the urgency of completing classrooms as soon as possible.

“According to the President, we cannot afford delays. The shortage must be addressed quickly for the benefit of students nationwide,” Castro said.

Under the planned agreement, funds will be downloaded to LGUs for implementation, while the DPWH and DepEd will monitor and oversee construction progress.

Castro said the inter-agency effort targets the completion of around 2,370 classrooms nationwide. Of these, about 200 classrooms are expected to be finished by the DPWH before the end of 2025, 2,000 by the third quarter of next year, and 822 more by the second quarter of 2026.