SENATOR Bam Aquino has called on the Department of Education  to immediately download funds for classroom construction to local government units (LGUs) to help address the country’s massive classroom backlog.

Aquino said the early release of funds would allow LGUs to begin building classrooms as part of the government’s plan to construct 25,000 new learning facilities using the P65-billion allocation under the 2026 national budget.

“Mahalagang maibaba sa lalong madaling panahon ang pondo sa ating mga katuwang na lokal na pamahalaan para agad nang masimulan ang pagtatayo ng mga classroom,” Aquino said.

“Sa ganitong paraan, mas mapapabilis ang pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan at mas maraming estudyante ang mabibigyan ng maayos at ligtas na lugar para matuto,” he added.

Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, pushed for the increased allocation for classroom construction in the 2026 national budget as part of efforts to address the country’s estimated 165,000-classroom backlog.

Under the 2026 national budget, DepEd has broad flexibility in implementing classroom construction projects, including partnerships with LGUs, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations with proven track records.

Local government units seeking access to the funds must enter into a memorandum of agreement with DepEd.

The Senate also approved Aquino’s proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, or Senate Bill No. 1482, on third and final reading with a 22–0 vote.

The measure would allow LGUs and qualified non-governmental organizations to construct classrooms within their jurisdictions, provided they comply with DepEd’s standards and guidelines.

The bill also aims to streamline the classroom-building process and includes safeguards against corruption, such as instituting a price ceiling for classroom construction.

Aside from addressing the classroom shortage, Aquino said the initiative could also boost employment by generating more than 100,000 jobs nationwide.

In previous consultations with local government officials, Aquino noted that building a single classroom typically requires four to six workers and takes about three to four months to complete.

He added that taxes generated by LGUs from hiring local contractors could also help support social service programs for their communities.