SENATOR Bam Aquino has expressed dismay over the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) report that it has completed the construction of only 22 classrooms for 2025.

“You can’t explain that. Even just saying it—‘22 classrooms’—sumasakit ang puso ko,” Aquino said during the DPWH budget hearing, after Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that only 22 out of the 1,700 targeted classrooms have been completed.

At this rate, Aquino warned that the classroom backlog could reach 200,000 by 2028.

“Our current estimated backlog is 146,000 classrooms. By 2028, if we continue at this pace, we could reach 200,000,” said Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Dizon said the DPWH will investigate the cause of the delays and find ways to accelerate classroom construction.

He also expressed full support for Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, which was recently certified as a priority measure by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the public school classroom shortage.

“We fully support this measure, especially now that only 22 classrooms have been completed this year. We definitely need help,” Dizon said, adding that the agency is also exploring partnerships with local government units to fast-track construction.

“At this rate, it’s virtually impossible for DPWH alone to meet the classroom needs,” he admitted.

The proposed bill seeks to decentralize classroom construction by allowing LGUs and qualified non-government organizations to build classrooms within DepEd standards and guidelines.