A significant push to address the country’s classroom shortage is underway after the Senate Committee on Finance announced Wednesday that the proposed 2026 national budget is set to fund the construction of up to 27,000 new classrooms with a massive P68 billion allocation.

The panel, chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, approved an additional P19.3 billion to augment the P48.7 billion already allotted under the General Appropriations Bill (House Bill No. 4058).

The new allocation represents a drastic increase, nearly five times the P15.25 billion originally proposed under the National Expenditure Program.

The lawmaker said the expanded funding demonstrates the Senate’s commitment to easing the persistent classroom deficit that has long strained public schools nationwide.