MANILA — House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin on Thursday urged a more strategic use of the education budget by prioritizing the construction of new classrooms over the repair of existing ones, amid the country’s ongoing classroom shortage.

In an interview with DZMM, Garin noted that while many classrooms across the country do need repairs, the more pressing concern is the lack of sufficient learning spaces to accommodate students.

She emphasized that addressing this shortage should take precedence over maintenance efforts.

“Maraming kailangang i-repair na classroom… pero para sa akin, mas magandang ilagay ang budget sa construction of new classrooms until we reach a point na talagang wala na tayong classroom shortage—then we can start prioritizing repairs,” said the Iloilo lawmaker.

Garin clarified that school administrators still have resources for basic maintenance, as repairs can be funded through the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allocated to each school. This allows schools flexibility to address minor repairs without waiting for national budget reallocations.

In May 2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported that the classroom backlog had reached 165,000.

Aside from infrastructure concerns, Garin also flagged budgeting practices related to research allocations. She raised concern over substantial funds going to research projects—some of which, she said, may duplicate studies previously conducted.

According to Garin, research funding should focus on fresh, forward-looking initiatives that address current challenges and support policy innovation.

The Deputy Speaker stressed the importance of ensuring that government funds lead to meaningful improvements in the lives of Filipinos.