Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Friday that the 2026 national budget will significantly speed up the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms to address the long-standing shortage of basic education facilities across the country.

Under the enrolled 2026 budget measure, a total of ₱85 billion has been allocated for classroom construction and rehabilitation. Of this amount, ₱65.9 billion is earmarked for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten to secondary school buildings, including technical-vocational laboratories.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said the increased funding will be complemented by faster implementation through the active participation of various sectors.

He noted that the 2026 budget grants the Department of Education (DepEd) greater flexibility in implementing classroom construction projects, including the use of public-private partnership schemes.

To enable simultaneous construction nationwide, DepEd may enter into agreements with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), qualified local government units, civil society and non-government organizations, as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corps of Engineers.

The DepEd aims to construct 165,000 classrooms to address the existing backlog and support the continued increase in student enrollment. The initiative will be carried out in partnership with local governments, the private sector, and DPWH.