NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
DepEd And DPWH Team Up To Fast-Track Classrooms Nationwide
Photo credit: DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has stepped up efforts to build and upgrade school facilities across the country following the signing of a key agreement between the two agencies.
Leading the ceremonial signing were Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who formalized a unified framework for planning, designing, and constructing basic education facilities nationwide.
At the heart of the initiative is a clear goal — to address the massive shortage of more than 144,000 classrooms through faster implementation of the Basic Education Facilities Program.
“Because of President Bongbong Marcos’ clear directive to strengthen education, we are accelerating the construction of quality classrooms,” Angara said. “We want to immediately address the backlog and ensure every student has a safe space to learn.”
He also emphasized stronger coordination between the two agencies, saying projects will now be faster, more efficient, and focused on the real needs of schools on the ground.
The agreement covers a wide range of infrastructure work — from building new classrooms to repairing and rehabilitating existing ones, spanning kindergarten to senior high school. It also includes technical-vocational laboratories, facilities for Last Mile Schools, and Learning Continuity Spaces.
For Dizon, the message is simple: move fast.
“It’s really about acting quickly, just as the President instructed. That’s our objective here — let’s speed things up,” he said.
The upgraded designs will also feature disability-friendly access, as well as improved water and sanitation facilities, making schools safer and more inclusive for all learners.
Under the deal, DepEd will submit a master list of priority schools before the end of May 2026, ensure site readiness, and secure environmental clearances. Meanwhile, DPWH will take charge of bidding and construction, conduct joint site validations, and guarantee that all buildings are safe and ready for use.
Funding will be released in phases to ensure efficiency — with an initial 50 percent upon approval, followed by 30 percent after significant progress, and the remaining balance based on project completion milestones.
To keep everything transparent, DPWH is required to submit monthly status reports to Schools Division Offices and quarterly updates to the DepEd central office.
With both agencies now working hand in hand, the goal is clear — deliver fully operational school buildings on time, close the classroom gap, and give Filipino students the learning spaces they deserve.
Leading the ceremonial signing were Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who formalized a unified framework for planning, designing, and constructing basic education facilities nationwide.
At the heart of the initiative is a clear goal — to address the massive shortage of more than 144,000 classrooms through faster implementation of the Basic Education Facilities Program.
“Because of President Bongbong Marcos’ clear directive to strengthen education, we are accelerating the construction of quality classrooms,” Angara said. “We want to immediately address the backlog and ensure every student has a safe space to learn.”
He also emphasized stronger coordination between the two agencies, saying projects will now be faster, more efficient, and focused on the real needs of schools on the ground.
The agreement covers a wide range of infrastructure work — from building new classrooms to repairing and rehabilitating existing ones, spanning kindergarten to senior high school. It also includes technical-vocational laboratories, facilities for Last Mile Schools, and Learning Continuity Spaces.
For Dizon, the message is simple: move fast.
“It’s really about acting quickly, just as the President instructed. That’s our objective here — let’s speed things up,” he said.
The upgraded designs will also feature disability-friendly access, as well as improved water and sanitation facilities, making schools safer and more inclusive for all learners.
Under the deal, DepEd will submit a master list of priority schools before the end of May 2026, ensure site readiness, and secure environmental clearances. Meanwhile, DPWH will take charge of bidding and construction, conduct joint site validations, and guarantee that all buildings are safe and ready for use.
Funding will be released in phases to ensure efficiency — with an initial 50 percent upon approval, followed by 30 percent after significant progress, and the remaining balance based on project completion milestones.
To keep everything transparent, DPWH is required to submit monthly status reports to Schools Division Offices and quarterly updates to the DepEd central office.
With both agencies now working hand in hand, the goal is clear — deliver fully operational school buildings on time, close the classroom gap, and give Filipino students the learning spaces they deserve.
Apr 17, 2026
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