THE SENATE Committee on Basic Education on Monday raised the need to standardize the cost of classroom construction across all government modalities, as lawmakers scrutinize public-private partnerships (PPPs) alongside projects undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs).

Presiding over the hearing on Senate Resolution No. 252, Senator Bam Aquino said the government must ensure that classrooms are built “at the right price, in the right way, and at the right time,” warning that wide cost variations undermine efficiency and public trust.

“It is important that there is a whole-of-nation, whole-of-government approach to address the education crisis. This fund must (be) used to build classrooms at the right price, in the right way, and at the right time,” Aquino said.

Based on studies cited by education agencies, the cost of building a standard classroom has ranged from about PHP1.5 million to PHP4 million, depending on the implementing modality.

Aquino said while some variation may be justified, classrooms built under PPPs, DPWH, or LGU-led projects should fall within a comparable price range, given that they follow the same Department of Education standards.

The senator said the committee is examining PPPs as a complementary option to existing construction channels, not as a replacement, as Congress seeks to address the country’s estimated 166,000-classroom gap even before last year’s earthquakes and typhoons.

“Let’s not miss this opportunity. The funding is good and there are new ways for the private sector (to be involved). Let’s identify these modalities, monitor them, and ensure that the funding for education continues, year on year. At the right price, in the right way, and at the right time,” Aquino said.

Under the proposed framework, the committee aims to compare pricing, timelines, and output across the three modalities in the coming months, with the findings expected to inform deliberations on the 2027 national budget.

The education sector receives a historic PHP1.34-trillion allocation for 2026, including PHP67.9 billion earmarked for classroom construction, with a target of building or starting at least 25,000 classrooms this year. (PNA)