MAMAMAYANG Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize mechanisms that will enable Local Government Units (LGUs) and the private sector to participate in the construction of classrooms in public schools.

Under House Bill No. 5751, or the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act—which fully adopts Senate Bill No. 121 filed by Senator Bam Aquino in the 20th Congress—a Classroom-Building Acceleration Program will be established to efficiently address the perennial nationwide classroom backlog.

“Clearly, there is a need to take a whole-of-nation approach to come up with an innovative, progressive, and comprehensive solution to the classroom backlog that remains a primary contributor to the country’s education crisis,” De Lima said.

“Nakapanlulumo at nakakagalit ang usad-pagong na pagtatayo ng mga silid-aralan sa buong bansa, habang napakarami nating mga mag-aaral ang nagsisiksikan, nagtitiis at shifting pa sa mga sira-sira o make-shift classroom, o tinuturuan pa sa ilalim ng puno. Nasaan ang hustisya? Hanggang kailan magdudusa sa ganitong sistema ang mga bata?” she added.

“We are one with Senator Bam Aquino in pushing for this bill and calling on the President to certify this measure as urgent,” De Lima further said.

Through this measure, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall provide capacity building and technical assistance to empower LGUs and the private sector to take part in constructing classrooms in public schools within their localities and communities.

Reportedly, DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said the country is facing a massive 165,000-classroom backlog that may take about 55 years to resolve if the government maintains its current pace.

Furthermore, during a Senate inquiry on October 20, 2025, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon admitted that only 22 classrooms out of the 1,700 targeted for 2025 had been constructed.

“De-kalidad na edukasyon ang dapat nating ipagkaloob sa ating mga mag-aaral—at dapat na ipamana sa susunod pang mga henerasyon—hindi kulang-kulang at substandard na mga silid-aralan na dulot ng burukrasya at korupsyon,” De Lima stressed.

“The worsening education crisis in the country, exacerbated by the reality of classroom shortage and corruption in government infrastructure projects, demands swift and decisive action from all government agencies and sectors. Hindi puwedeng magpatumpik-tumpik at babagal-bagal ang gobyerno sa pagtugon sa malalang problemang ito,” she added.