Senator Bam Aquino has expressed strong dismay at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) following its disclosure that it has completed the construction of just 22 classrooms for the year 2025, a far cry from its target of 1,700.

“You can’t explain that. Even just saying it, sumasakit iyong puso ko na 22 lang ang nagawang classroom (It hurts me that you only built 22 classrooms),” Aquino said during the Senate budget hearing on the DPWH’s 2026 proposed budget on Monday.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, warned that at the current pace, the country’s classroom backlog could balloon to 200,000 by 2028, worsening an already critical shortage.

“The estimated current classroom backlog is at 146,000. By 2028, if we continue at this rate, aabot tayo ng (we can reach) 200,000,” he emphasized.

During the hearing, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon admitted the department had only completed 22 classrooms so far in 2025 but assured the Senate that the agency is looking into the cause of the delay and is committed to accelerating construction.

“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 (especially not that there are only 22 that were built this year. We really need help),” Dizon said, referring to the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, Aquino’s proposed legislation.

The CAP Act, which was recently certified as a priority measure by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aims to decentralize classroom construction by allowing local government units (LGUs) and qualified non-government organizations (NGOs) to take part in building school infrastructure. 

The goal is to fast-track construction while maintaining standards set by the Department of Education.

“At this rate, it's virtually impossible na magawa ng DPWH itong kailangan nating mga classrooms,” Dizon admitted, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and multi-sectoral approach.

The country’s classroom shortage has been a long-standing issue, but Aquino said the latest figures are “beyond unacceptable.”

Education stakeholders, advocacy groups, and local officials have also echoed calls to adopt more flexible and decentralized systems for classroom construction, citing bureaucratic delays and limited DPWH capacity as persistent bottlenecks.

If passed, the CAP Act would enable local governments and partner organizations to initiate construction projects within their jurisdictions, subject to DepEd standards and oversight.