MANILA — Several local government units (LGUs) are anticipated to implement innovative school initiatives in August to tackle the issue of classroom shortage.

The Senate Committee on Finance examined the intentions and initiatives of the education sector for the execution of the 2026 national budget, including classroom construction, during a hearing on Tuesday. The industry received P1.345 trillion, the most in the nation’s history.

24,000 classrooms are to be built by 2026, with LGUs in charge of construction.

Wilfredo Cabral, Undersecretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), states that among other things, the first quarter is devoted to completing memoranda of understanding and submitting the program of works.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the Committee Chairperson, stated, “So we’re looking at August for a massive groundbreaking activity from the LGUs.”

However, DepEd admitted that not every classroom will be completed in the year.

DepEd Undersecretary Edson Sy stated, “We don’t really expect all 24,000 classrooms by the end of the year, but a lot of those should be starting already by this year.”

Cabral said that they anticipate the transfer or opening of a one- or two-story classroom building in the fourth quarter, as well as the processing of funding and the start of construction in the second and third quarters.

DepEd will distribute funds to LGUs in a 50-30-20 ratio, and stringent liquidation procedures will be followed.

The session also focused on textbooks, with Gatchalian emphasizing the need for one-on-one interactions with pupils, particularly in light of the P19 billion budget increase for 2026.

According to DepEd Undersecretary Carmela Oracion, they had P7 billion in early purchases.

The procurement procedure was shortened from 461 days to 145 days, she continued.

The P19 billion budget would also be utilized for other purchases, like teacher manuals and student workbooks.

Over P7 billion was allocated to the school-based feeding program between 2021 and 2025. In the 2026 General Appropriations Act, it increased to P28.6 billion.

“We want to now cover universal kindergarten, universal grade 1, and then targeted for 1 to 6, but increased it from 120 days to 200 days, meaning the full school year,” Gatchalian explained.

The goal is to feed 4.81 million students every day.

DepEd claims to have pre-identified 21 LGUs that will get funding to feed students hot meals. Recipients were chosen based on their ability to use functioning or semi-functional kitchens to prepare fresh meals.

By the end of March, DepEd aims to have memoranda of agreement with the 21 LGUs. The program will also extend invitations to other LGUs.

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