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Two years before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ends his term, the government has completed more than half of its target of building 40,000 new classrooms, leaving about 18,100 more to fulfill one of the administration’s key education commitments.
In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos pledged to build 40,000 classrooms before the end of his term in June 2028 to help ease classroom congestion and improve learning conditions in public schools.
Latest data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed that 21,900 classrooms have been completed through projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) since the start of the Marcos administration in June 2022.
DepEd said it remains confident the target is attainable, provided current funding levels are sustained and procurement stays on schedule.
The department said 6,294 classrooms funded under the 2026 national budget are currently under procurement by the DPWH, while another 6,617 classrooms are being implemented by local government units following the signing of memoranda of agreement and the transfer of funds.
DepEd said 3,364 classrooms have been completed since Marcos delivered his 2025 SONA.
The total includes 1,538 classrooms completed between August and December 2025, 1,627 from January to June 2026, and 199 in July 2026.
As of June 2026, DepEd estimated the nationwide classroom backlog at 143,543, down from 165,443 at the start of the Marcos administration. The department noted that the estimate continues to be refined as enrollment figures, school inventories, and site conditions are validated.
DepEd said addressing the remaining shortage will require not only constructing more classrooms but also ensuring that new school buildings are equipped with furniture, water and sanitation facilities, accessibility features, utilities, and digital connectivity so they can be immediately used by learners. —VBL, GMA News
