Aquino flags classroom backlogs anew

Senator Bam Aquino once again flagged classroom backlogs across the country as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) revealed that it only completed 22 out of its 1,700 target classrooms this 2025.

“We were all surprised when we learned that only 22 classrooms were built by the DPWH this year. Our backlog is 145,000 and above, so the 22 that the DPWH built — that is really unacceptable,” Aquino said.

He further urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, or Senate Bill No. 121, as a solution to the country’s classroom backlog.

While Senate Bill No. 121 has already been identified as one of the administration’s priority measures in the 20th Congress, Aquino said Marcos should take the next step by certifying the bill as urgent to ensure its swift passage.

“Our call for the Classroom Acceleration Program Bill is to give it to local government units (LGUs). We are glad that today, the President has agreed to us,” Aquino said in Filipino.

“We’re hoping that since we agree on this, he will certify the Classroom Acceleration Program as urgent so that we can simultaneously build classrooms for our youth,” he added.

If passed into law, Aquino said Senate Bill No. 121 will complement Marcos’ directive to channel funds directly to LGUs to help expedite the construction of much-needed classrooms.

The proposed measure aims to decentralize classroom construction by expanding the mandate beyond DPWH to include LGUs and non-government organizations with a proven track record.

Under the bill, LGUs and non-profit organizations can then build classrooms in compliance with the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines within their jurisdictions.

“It is important that we just place the responsibility of building the classroom on groups and people who can really do it quickly and at the right price,” Aquino said.

During the Senate hearing on the DPWH budget, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon expressed full support for Aquino’s proposal, saying the agency is open to partnerships that will help speed up the construction of much-needed classrooms nationwide.

“We are in full support of this measure, especially now that the department has only been able to do 22 this year. We really need your help,” Dizon said.