Senator Bam Aquino has expressed dismay over the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) revelation that it has completed the construction of just 22 classrooms for 2025.
‘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 DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said that only 22 out of the 1,700 target have been completed.
At this rate, Aquino said the classroom backlog will reach 200,000 by 2028.
‘Ang estimated current classroom backlog natin ay 146,000. By 2028, if we continue at this rate, aabot tayo ng 200,000,’ emphasized Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
Dizon said the DPWH will look into the cause of delay and find a way to fast-track the construction of classrooms.
He also expressed his full support for Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which was recently certified as a priority measure by President Ferdinand Marcos as a means to address the classroom backlog 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 also looking at partnerships with local government units to hasten classroom construction.
‘At this rate, it’s virtually impossible na magawa ng DPWH itong kailangan nating mga classrooms,’ he admitted.
The proposed bill aims to decentralize classroom construction by expanding the mandate beyond DPWH to include local government units and non-government organizations with a proven track record. They can then build classrooms in compliance with the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines within their jurisdictions.