The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed only 22 classrooms this year out of its target of 1,700, Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed during a Senate finance committee hearing on the department’s 2024 budget.
Of the 1,764 classroom projects, 882 are ongoing while another 882 have yet to start. The completion rate stands at 15.43 percent, a figure lawmakers described as “very deplorable.” Senator Bam Aquino warned that at this pace, the country’s 146,000-classroom backlog could swell to 200,000 by 2028.
“It’s October, secretary. Even just saying it, sumasakit po ‘yung puso ko na only 22 classrooms were built. If we continue at this rate, our 146,000-classroom backlog will balloon to 200,000 by 2028,” Aquino said.
Aquino proposed removing classroom construction duties from the DPWH and transferring them to local government units (LGUs) under the proposed Classroom Acceleration Bill. “What we intend to do is remove this from the DPWH because you’re busy and you need to do other things. Funds should be given directly to LGUs for building classrooms,” Aquino said.
Dizon agreed with the proposal, acknowledging the department’s struggle to meet education infrastructure goals. “We are in full support of this measure, especially now — 22 have been built this year. We really need help,” he said.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara also supported the plan, favoring direct fund downloads to LGUs and partnerships with private organizations experienced in school construction.
Meanwhile, the Senate finance committee, chaired by Senator Win Gatchalian, warned that DPWH could lose up to half of its proposed ₱625-billion budget due to thousands of “red-flagged” and overpriced projects. These include ₱271 billion worth of questionable infrastructure and ₱70 billion more found to be overpriced by as much as 1,000 percent based on engineering reviews.
The DPWH is now under pressure to validate project data, remove duplicates, and justify costs before the 2026 budget deliberations.
