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Advocates Philippines
Dizon Pledges To Finish PUP's Long-Delayed Buildings, Easing Classroom Crunch
Screengrab from DPWH
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has promised to complete six unfinished school buildings at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Main Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila, in a bid to address the university’s chronic shortage of classrooms.
At a DPWH job fair on campus Thursday, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon announced that the department plans to allocate around ₱1.5 billion in the 2027 budget to finally finish the stalled structures, which have been left incomplete for years. He told students, faculty, and officials, “Kinakapos na talaga ang PUP sa classroom, padami nang padami yung mga estudyante, and wala na silang mapaglagyan. If we can provide this funding, lahat ng building niyo rito, finally next year matatapos lahat ‘yan.”
The Bigger Picture: Classroom Shortages Nationwide
PUP, one of the country’s largest state universities, reflects a broader problem in Philippine education: a persistent shortage of classrooms. Many schools across the country have resorted to double or even triple shifts just to accommodate students. Government and media estimates put the national deficit at around 145,000–150,000 classrooms, a challenge that could take decades to fully resolve without consistent funding and better project execution.
Part of the problem has been delays in construction. In 2025, the DPWH completed only 22 out of 1,700 targeted classrooms nationwide, frustrating lawmakers and education leaders. To address the backlog, the Department of Education (DepEd) secured a record ₱65 billion budget in 2026 aimed at building nearly 25,000 classrooms and is pursuing partnerships with local government units and the private sector to accelerate delivery.
Impact for Students
If the ₱1.5 billion allocation for PUP’s unfinished buildings is approved by Congress, students could see a major improvement in classroom space by 2027, reducing overcrowding and easing the pressure on teachers and staff.
However, for the tens of thousands of other learners nationwide, the classroom deficit remains a long-term challenge, requiring sustained funding, efficient project implementation, and stronger coordination among agencies like DPWH and DepEd.
The PUP initiative highlights the importance of timely completion of school construction projects in improving learning conditions, giving students, teachers, and parents hope for a more conducive educational environment.
At a DPWH job fair on campus Thursday, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon announced that the department plans to allocate around ₱1.5 billion in the 2027 budget to finally finish the stalled structures, which have been left incomplete for years. He told students, faculty, and officials, “Kinakapos na talaga ang PUP sa classroom, padami nang padami yung mga estudyante, and wala na silang mapaglagyan. If we can provide this funding, lahat ng building niyo rito, finally next year matatapos lahat ‘yan.”
The Bigger Picture: Classroom Shortages Nationwide
PUP, one of the country’s largest state universities, reflects a broader problem in Philippine education: a persistent shortage of classrooms. Many schools across the country have resorted to double or even triple shifts just to accommodate students. Government and media estimates put the national deficit at around 145,000–150,000 classrooms, a challenge that could take decades to fully resolve without consistent funding and better project execution.
Part of the problem has been delays in construction. In 2025, the DPWH completed only 22 out of 1,700 targeted classrooms nationwide, frustrating lawmakers and education leaders. To address the backlog, the Department of Education (DepEd) secured a record ₱65 billion budget in 2026 aimed at building nearly 25,000 classrooms and is pursuing partnerships with local government units and the private sector to accelerate delivery.
Impact for Students
If the ₱1.5 billion allocation for PUP’s unfinished buildings is approved by Congress, students could see a major improvement in classroom space by 2027, reducing overcrowding and easing the pressure on teachers and staff.
However, for the tens of thousands of other learners nationwide, the classroom deficit remains a long-term challenge, requiring sustained funding, efficient project implementation, and stronger coordination among agencies like DPWH and DepEd.
The PUP initiative highlights the importance of timely completion of school construction projects in improving learning conditions, giving students, teachers, and parents hope for a more conducive educational environment.
Mar 12, 2026
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