President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration constructed 14,825 new classrooms in various parts of the country from July 2022 to October 2024, the Department of Education (DepEd) statistics said.
President Marcos has prioritized the construction of new school buildings, classrooms ,and educational facilities, as well as the repair and upgrading of old and damaged ones particularly those that were hit by calamities.
“We should accelerate the building of more classrooms, laboratories, and schools … As you build and repair classrooms, let us be mindful [that] storms and earthquakes are not getting any less frequent and neither are they getting any weaker. That is why we are putting more emphasis on the quality of schools that we build,” the President said during the 2024 Basic Education report in January.
DepEd data showed that from July 2022 to October 2024, the Marcos administration has accomplished the following under the School Building Program Basic Education Facilities (BEF):
BEF – No. of new classrooms constructed: 14,825
BEF – No. of classrooms repaired: 8,840
BEF – No. of school seats delivered: 686,091
BEF – No. of school sites upgraded and energized: 510
BEF – No. of school health facilities constructed (sites): 1,164
No. of Gabaldon buildings restored (buildings): 59
Quick Response Fund – No. of classrooms repaired: 5,516
Last Mile Schools – No. of sites constructed: 257
Last Mile Schools – No. of classrooms constructed:908
DepEd’s Last Mile Schools Program addresses the gaps in resources and facilities of schools that are in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). It provides new classrooms with standard school furniture and health sanitation facilities. In areas where electrification has not yet been provided, the program also brings in electricity through the installation of solar panels.
More schools, more classrooms, more facilities throughout the country
The Marcos administration targets to construct 544 new classrooms in Caraga and repair around 704 old classrooms across the region. It disbursed PhP1.7 billion to construct new classrooms and around PhP453 million to repair old ones.
In June 2024, President Marcos allotted PhPhP1.5 billion to build new classrooms in Caraga region.
“Nakapaglaan na tayo ng higit sa PhP1.5 bilyon para sa pagtayo ng mga bagong silid-aralan at halos kalahating bilyon piso para sa pagpaayos sa lumang silid-aralan,” he said.
The Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been partners in implementing the School Building Program Basic Education Facilities (BEF).
School construction
The following is a list of some of these projects, based on the updates provided by DPWH as well as other offices on their websites and social media accounts. These projects are either completed, or are in various stages of construction.
KALINGA –PhP52-million 4-storey, 20-classroom school building at Bulanao Central School (BCS) in Tabuk City. On May 11, 2023, The DPWH broke ground for this project, and was completed last November 4, 2024.
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, citing a report from the DPWH Cordillera Administrative Regional Office, said this school building project, will have a total of 20 classrooms with comfort rooms, water tanks, and fire protection equipment to ensure conducive, convenient, and safe learning environment for both pupils and teachers of BCS.
BALER, AURORA –PhP49-million two-storey, eight-classroom building, a one-storey, three-classroom building, and retrofitting of the school’s covered court. On November 28, 2024, the DPWH reported that it had completed the construction of new school buildings and the rehabilitation of an existing covered court at Baler Central School (BCS).
The department said “a total of P49-million covered the construction of a two-storey, eight-classroom building, a one-storey, three-classroom building, and the retrofitting of the school’s covered court, which has been upgraded to meet modern standards. The project also included several new amenities, such as a 150-square meter function hall, a viewing stand with a stage, a public toilet, a 250-meter drainage canal, a water system, a new flagpole, a parking area, and a playground, all aimed at enhancing the school’s facilities and benefiting the local community.”
LEYTE – On November 18, 2024, the DPWH completed a one-story, two-classroom school building in Cancaraja Elementary School in Barangay Cancaraja, Pastrana, funded under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) in partnership with the DepEd.
NUEVA ECIJA – On August 23, 2024, the department reported: “In Carranglan and San Jose City, the DPWH constructed one single-storey school building each with four classrooms in Carranglan Central School and Sto. Tomas Elementary School. The agency also constructed two single-storey school buildings that accommodate two classrooms each in Pandalla Elementary School and San Andres Elementary School in the Science City of Muñoz. All the school buildings completed have toilets, handwashing areas, corridors, gutters, and persons with disabilities (PWD) ramps with handrails.”
AURORA –PhP20.3-million 2-storey, 8-classroom school building at Diniog National High School (DNHS) in Dilasag. On March 22, 2023, the DPWH reported the completion of this project.
The department said: “DNHS now has additional classrooms complete with new blackboards, wall fans, and chairs that will ensure a more conducive learning environment. The school building also has comfort rooms, water tanks, and fire protection equipment to ensure convenience and safety for both students and teachers of DNHS.”
PALAWAN – On November 27, 2024, the DPWH reported the completion of a new classroom building within the campus of San Rafael Elementary School, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The project has a PWD friendly bathroom and walkway.
Other projects
CAPIZ –PhP24.5-million 2-storey, 10-classroom school building at the Culasi National High School in Roxas City; PhP14.8-million 2-storey, 4-classroom building at Tapulang Integrated School in Maayon; and PhP7.7-million 1-storey, 4-classroom school building at the Jose Diva Avelino Jr. National High School in Pontevedra.
ILOILO –PhP14.8-million 2-storey, 4-classroom building at Estancia Elementary School in Estancia; and PhP6-million comprehensive renovation of 8-unit, 1-classroom Cabas-an Elementary School in Iloilo City.
COTABATO –PhP10.8-million building for the Tonganon Elementary School in Brgy. Tonganon, Carmen
LEYTE –PhP4.9-million 1-storey, 2-classroom school building at Cancaraja Elementary School in Pastrana.
SAMAR –PhP5.9-million 1-storey, 2-classroom school building at Lambao Elementary School (LES) in Sta. Margarita.
SORSOGON –PhP29-million 2-storey, 8-classroom building for the Jagusara Elementary School, and 1-storey, 5-classroom building at Alegria Elementary School at a cost of Php11.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – 4-storey, 20-classroom school building of the Baliwasan Senior High School – in Baliwasan.
BATANGAS –PhP59-million 4-storey, 20-classroom building for the Bauan Integrated Technical High School (BITHS) in Bauan. House Speaker Martin Romualdez said during the project groundbreaking on Sept. 23, 2024 that the active enhancement of the country’s educational facilities–such as the construction of a new school building–is another testament to the Marcos administration’s dedication to give the Filipino youth quality education.
Huge help for the learners and educators
The construction, repair, and upgrade of school buildings, classrooms and facilities have resulted in huge benefits and convenience to students and the teaching personnel.
Thank you from teachers
Alegria Elementary School Principal Abner Lomangaya: “Napakaalwan po nito para sa amin po lalo na kung ikukumpara natin ang sukat talagang maalwan po sa mga bata, maganda po yung facility at higit sa lahat napakalaki ang maitutulong po nito pagdating po sa teaching and learning process ng mga estudyante kasi maalwan po sa teacher, maalwan po sa mga estudyante, very spacious po talaga standard po ang sukat.”
Barcelona Central School Teacher Judy Ragasa: “Mas mabuti yung bago ngayon kaysa dati kasi were feeling safe and sound for the teachers and also for the pupils. Sabi ko ngani na safe kami maski anung darating na bagyo dito ay safe na kami di na kami magwoworry unlike before na pupunta pa kami doon check namin kung may nagiba nayon okay na kami.”
Jagusara Elementary School Principal Domingo Dolosa: “Jagusara Elementary School has 7 and 15 makeshift [classrooms], so upon the arrival of the new building, it is very useful for the school kasi complete ang kanilang magiging classroom hindi na siya masikip. This time so the building is very complete, madali na silang makakagalaw, maluwag na yung kwarto, malinis na.”
In his speech at the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Celebration, President Marcos said, “[A] teacher from Abra working in one of our Last Mile Schools, Ma’am Narry Ann, mentioned that through the School Building Program, now she has a safe, comfortable space where her students can learn without distractions.’
Further boost to school building program
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has said that as part of efforts to address gaps in educational infrastructure, the DepEd has been beefing up efforts to build more classrooms.
The Secretary has highlighted the department’s speeding up of procurement through Early Procurement Activities or EPA for the school building program and other priority projects.
He also said that DepEd is actively collaborating with DPWH to accelerate the construction of much-needed classrooms.
He said the country still needs to build 159,000 classrooms, which increases by 12,000 per year.
Resilient schools
In May 2024, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Marcos Jr., approved the PhP30.56-billion Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools (ISRS) Project aimed at rehabilitating and reconstructing school facilities outside Metro Manila damaged by calamities.##
