The Department of Education (DepEd) has signed a formal agreement with local government units to fast-track the construction and repair of public school classrooms under the 2026 national budget.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the partnership aims to address a nationwide shortage of 165,000 classrooms by allowing local governments to take a more active role in infrastructure projects.

The agreement is authorized under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which permits the department to delegate the delivery of education facilities to qualified local partners.

Under the new framework, local governments can manage construction and repairs using their own procurement processes. Funding for these projects will come from a mix of national allocations, tax allotments, and local special education funds.

“This strengthens our coordination in identifying priority schools and mobilizing resources,” Angara said. He cited that while local governments will handle implementation, the projects must meet national education and infrastructure standards.

DepEd will maintain oversight by providing standardized designs and technical frameworks and it also retains the authority to review plans, validate completed buildings, and demand corrective action if projects fail to meet performance specifications or auditing rules.

Angara is currently coordinating with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and the leagues of provinces and cities to finalize the project timelines and processes.