Jea Nicole Jacot

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said on Monday, May 26, that the country currently lacks 165,443 classrooms, warning that resolving the shortage could take up to 30 years if funding remains insufficient.


“We’re now at around 165,000 [classroom shortage] and growing kasi hindi na kakayanin nung current budget to meet the ano eh […] It would take us 30 years, probably, if we work with the current budget,” Angara said.

The most significant classroom deficits are found in heavily populated areas, including CALABARZON (Region IV-A) and the National Capital Region (NCR).

He noted that the classroom shortage is a major barrier to the students’ in-person attendance, along with other challenges such as overcrowding, lack of resources, and inadequate learning environments 

“‘Yung mga kailangan talagang nasa loob ng classroom, kailangan kausap talaga ang mga teachers, ‘yun ‘yung mga Nursery, Grade 1, kindergarten dahil ‘yun palang ang natututo at kailangan matuto magbasa, kailangan matuto magsalita. ‘Yan talaga kailangan nasa loob ng classroom,” he expressed.

For incoming senior high school students, Angara stressed the need for strong internet connection in key areas to assist them in “independent learning” at home.
 
Under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), 28 billion pesos has been allocated to DepEd for basic education facilities, with 7.18 billion pesos earmarked for the construction specifically of new kindergarten, elementary, and secondary classrooms.

In line with the "Repair All Policy," a 6.13 billion pesos is designated for the rehabilitation, repair, and enhancement of school buildings.

‘Strategic’ partnerships  

DepEd has partnered with a group of leading brands to launch Generation HOPE, a campaign aimed at addressing the urgent need to construct more public school classrooms. 

“Ang daming network na mata-tap, ang daming brands, korporasyon, at ang publiko ay makakatulong dito,” Angara said in the Generation HOPE launch at SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on May 26.

Brands participating in the partnership include Aivee Clinic, BDO Credit Cards, Carmen's Best, Grab, Penshoppe, SM Supermalls, and Sunnies.

Looking ahead to the next school year, Angara said that such partnerships could provide crucial support to DepEd in bridging the gaps in the education sector, especially as funding continues to be a challenge. 

“Malaking bagay ‘to kasi nga ‘di ba nabawasan kami ng budget nitong 2025 so ito, makakatulong do’n sa kakulangan natin sa classrooms. ‘Yung ibang programa ng DepEd, mabigyan ng focus tapos may katulong tayo dito,” he said. 

Classes for School Year 2025-2026 are scheduled to begin on June 16, 2025, and end on March 31, 2026.