AMID the persistent classroom shortage nationwide, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged cities to accelerate school building projects to ensure students have access to safe and adequate learning spaces.

Gatchalian’s call follows the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Education and cities for a nationwide classroom building program.

According to Gatchalian, the agreement aligns with the 2026 national budget, which gives DepEd more flexibility in classroom construction.

Under the 2026 national budget, DepEd may enter into MOAs with different government agencies, including local government units, to build classrooms. The agency may also tap non-governmental organizations and civil society groups for classroom construction.

More than P65 billion has been allotted this year for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings, including technical-vocational laboratories. As of July 2025, the country has a shortage of 147,000 classrooms.

“Mahalaga ang pakikipagtulungan natin sa mga lungsod upang makapagpatayo tayo ng mas maraming silid-aralan. Kung maraming lungsod ang sabay-sabay na kikilos, mababawasan ang mga silid-aralan na may nagsisiksikang mga mag-aaral,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.