DepEd launches campaign to tackle classroom shortage through multi-agency approach

Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced on August 14 in the Philippines a campaign to address the persistent classroom shortage by promoting a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies, aiming to overcome delays.

The initiative seeks to improve school construction in the Philippines by moving beyond the traditional model led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has often caused projects to fail to meet the growing demand for new classrooms.

Following the direction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Angara’s proposal aims to introduce a more flexible and efficient framework, which will be included in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“We included a Special Provision on flexibility in the 2025 NEP. Because the DPWH often responds to disasters, we want to create a pool of more implementing actors to ensure that projects continue without delay,” he said.

Local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and private sector entities are to be contacted to help construct learning spaces, particularly in hard-to-reach and vulnerable areas.

Angara emphasizes that this multi-sector approach is “critical for the country’s educational future.”

The Education Secretary highlighted that this shift would also bring greater efficiency and transparency to the process, and projects can be completed more rapidly, ensuring that students get access to proper classrooms sooner.

The agency is in the process of updating its national classroom master plan, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s needs.

DepEd has also thrown its support behind the proposed Classroom Building Acceleration Program (CAP) under Senate Bill No. 121.