Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Wednesday called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to take politics out of the equation and ensure the continuity of its school building programs to finally resolve the country’s long-standing shortage of classrooms.

Speaking during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Marcoleta pointed to the lack of institutional memory and consistency in DepEd’s classroom infrastructure program, which he said has contributed to the worsening gap in school facilities over the years.

“Walang politika. Dapat may continuity sa programa sa pagtatayo ng mga silid-paaralan,” the senator said, emphasizing that education infrastructure should not be disrupted by changing administrations or agency leadership.

Marcoleta questioned DepEd Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral about why the classroom shortage worsened after 2018, even though previous years had shown promising progress.

The senator noted that from 2016 to 2017, DepEd had made significant strides in addressing the problem.

This momentum, however, came to a halt when the construction of school buildings under the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) was transferred to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Before DPWH took over, you were saying that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Pero, you were asked, bakit hindi n'yo itinuloy? Even if it was a good policy?,” Marcoleta asked.

Cabral responded that he was not yet part of the implementing team at the time, an answer Marcoleta found unacceptable.

“That’s the problem. There is no continuity, no institutional memory in DepEd,” he said.

Marcoleta then cited South Korea’s long-term educational planning, which he said has been followed consistently since 1901, regardless of changes in political leadership.

“Kahit tatlong presidente na ang pinakulong nila, it did not matter. Yung programa ng presidenteng nakulong, itinuloy pa rin nila (Even though they had already jailed three presidents, it did not matter. They still continued the programs of the president who was imprisoned),” he said.

“Wala dapat politika (There should be no politics involved). That’s the difference between us and South Korea,” Marcoleta further stressed.

The hearing also tackled Senate Bill 121, or the proposed Classroom Building Acceleration Program Bill, which aims to reduce costs and fast-track classroom construction through innovative solutions such as public-private partnerships, collaboration with non-profit organizations, and replication of successful local government initiatives.

The bill is seen as a crucial step toward solving the classroom shortage, which continues to hinder the delivery of quality basic education in the country.