As the country awaits the President’s signing of the 2026 national budget, Senator Win Gatchalian assured that the measure will significantly accelerate classroom construction to address the persistent backlog in basic education facilities.

Under the enrolled 2026 budget measure, ₱85 billion is allotted for the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms. Of this amount, ₱65.9 billion is allocated for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten to secondary school buildings, as well as technical-vocational laboratories.

“Hindi lamang tayo naglaan ng mas malaking pondo para sa pagpapatayo ng mga classrooms. Tiniyak din nating mapapabilis ito sa pamamagitan ng aktibong pakikilahok ng iba’t ibang sektor,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

He pointed out that the 2026 national budget will give the Department of Education (DepEd) flexibility when it comes to the modalities for classroom construction, including public-private partnership.

To allow simultaneous constructions nationwide, the DepEd may enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), qualified local government units, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corp of Engineers.

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN