SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian said the Department of Education’s engagement with local government units (LGUs) will speed up the construction of more classrooms and help address the backlog in basic education facilities.

The senator issued the statement following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between DepEd and the provinces for a nationwide classroom-building program.

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

The 2026 national budget provides that DepEd may enter into MOAs with LGUs, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Corps of Engineers.

“Mahalagang hakbang ang pakikipagtulungan natin sa mga local government units upang makapagpatayo pa tayo ng mas maraming mga silid-aralan. Kung sabay-sabay na magpapatayo ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, mas marami tayong mapapakinabangang silid-aralan at unti-unti nating mapupunan ang kakulangan sa ating mga pasilidad,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The 2026 national budget allotted P65.9 billion for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings, including technical-vocational laboratories.