Senator Win Gatchalian assured that the 2026 national budget will significantly accelerate classroom construction to address the persistent backlog in basic education facilities.
Gatchalian said ₱85 billion is allotted for the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms.
Of this amount, ₱65.9 billion is allocated for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten to secondary school buildings, as well as technical-vocational laboratories.
“Tiniyak din nating mapapabilis ito sa pamamagitan ng aktibong pakikilahok ng iba’t ibang sektor.”
“Hindi lamang tayo naglaan ng mas malaking pondo para sa pagpapatayo ng mga classrooms. Tiniyak din nating mapapabilis ito sa pamamagitan ng aktibong pakikilahok ng iba’t ibang sektor,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
The veteran legislator pointed out that the 2026 national budget will give the Department of Education (DepEd) flexibility when it comes to the modalities for classroom construction, including public-private partnership.
To allow simultaneous constructions nationwide, the DepEd may enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), qualified local government units, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corp of Engineers.
