The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it has intensified its efforts to complete the construction of unfinished classroom projects nationwide, even as it prepares to broaden delivery options starting 2026 to address long-standing gaps in basic education facilities.

For previous years, classroom construction for public schools has largely been implemented through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is mandated to undertake the construction of school building projects.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Education, there are over 8,000 classroom projects currently being worked on simultaneously for 2024 and 2025.

"DPWH has completed around 3,600 classrooms, with the remaining units being closely monitored for immediate completion and use by our students," Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

DepEd is working closely with DPWH to resolve unfinished projects carried over from earlier years and ensure that classrooms are completed and turned over for use by learners.

The Education department also confirmed that it maintains an inventory of unfinished classroom projects from previous years.

To address these backlogs, the agency proposed P3.192 billion under the 2026 national budget to complete 3,614 classrooms. Congress approved P2.282 billion, enough to fund the completion of 2,067 classrooms.

Despite funding constraints, Angara said it is pressing ahead with concrete measures to fast-track completion, in line with the President’s directive to prioritize school infrastructure and learner safety.

As part of this effort, DepEd and DPWH are jointly conducting nationwide validation activities covering 384 schools with unfinished or for-completion classroom projects. The validation seeks to confirm the physical status of each project, remaining scope of work, funding gaps, and site readiness, so that classrooms can be prioritized for immediate completion.

Angara added that while ongoing DPWH projects are being addressed, DepEd is also laying the groundwork for more flexible approaches to classroom delivery beginning in 2026.

As part of the government’s continuing efforts to address the classroom shortage, Angara met with mayors from the National Capital Region on 4 February. During the meeting, DepEd presented the guidelines for school building projects under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, including eligibility requirements for local government units and other options to address classroom needs, such as leasing and repair of existing facilities.

Angara noted that discussions on classroom construction targets for the DPWH’s implementation for 2026 are ongoing.

"There is also one programmed for 2026, although it is still being discussed. According to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, the government has set a conservative target of 1,500 to 2,000 new classrooms for construction in 2026,” he shared.

Angara also emphasized the importance of close collaboration between DepEd, DPWH, local government units, and the private sector to accelerating solutions to infrastructure gaps and ensuring that public funds translate into safe, functional learning spaces for learners.