THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has raised concern over worsening classroom congestion linked to government housing projects that overlook the educational needs of relocated families.

In a recent meeting, EDCOM 2 revealed that 58 resettlement projects by the National Housing Authority over the past decade — totaling more than 167,000 housing units — were built without proper coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).

EDCOM Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee underscored the scale of the issue.

“Assuming two children per household, that’s over 334,000 students needing more than 8,000 classrooms — adding to our 165,000-classroom backlog,” Yee said.

The commission cited overcrowded schools like Calubcob Elementary in Cavite, where 1,800 students share just two standard and six makeshift classrooms.

It also flagged a loophole in existing housing regulations — specifically BP 220 — which only optionally requires the inclusion of schools in developments with 1,500 or more housing units.

“This provision is not mandatory, so even large private developers skip it,” said DHSUD official Maria Amoroso.

Yee urged the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), DepEd, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to urgently establish coordination protocols.

“We can’t keep building homes and ignore schools. That’s how we lose a generation,” he warned.

In response, DHSUD committed to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with DepEd next week and pledged to work with the DILG on a Joint Memorandum Circular to guide coordination on future projects.