CORRUPTION IN THE government is massive, systemic, and contagious. But for the Department of Education (DepEd), compromising the future of the younger generation is totally unacceptable.
Taking cue on the administration’s effort to cleanse the government of crooks, Education Secretary Sonny Angara finds it rather imperative to keep the agency away from what looks more like an extremely contagious culture of corruption.
To start with, Angara ordered a thorough audit on all infrastructure projects — including school buildings, implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for DepEd
USELESS BUILDINGS
Angara particularly cited an initial figure — some 1,000 classrooms which to date have yet to serve its purpose, to address the huge gap between the rapidly growing student population and classrooms in public schools across the country.
According to the Education chief, the DPWH-made classrooms remain unusable — either substandard of uncompleted, to date.
In a recent radio interview, Angara cited the urgent need for an audit of classrooms built by DPWH amid investigations (by both Congress and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure) into trillions lost through flood control projects that were either not completed, substandard, or worse non-existent (ghost project).
NO GHOSTS FOR NOW
Previously, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hopped from one Bulacan town to another for ocular inspections from where DPWH flood control projects of inferior quality were discovered.
In some instances, Marcos found no trace of work at all, despite certifications that the projects were 100 percent completed — and fully paid by the national government.
Angara said: “We are seeing incomplete (classroom projects). It’s not totally a ghost, but the classrooms are not finished… It’s not being used because the classroom is not fully completed,” Angara said, noting that some of the classrooms which were turned over have remained “bare” and don’t have electricity.
ORDERS FULL REPORT
He however clarified that his agency is still in the process of verifying whether the more than 1,000 incomplete classrooms were fully paid for, adding that he has ordered all concerned officials to submit reports on ghost or unfinished school buildings.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Aurelio Paulo Bartolome for human resources and education facilities, said in a memorandum dated Sept. 12 all regional directors, school division superintendents and public school district supervisors were instructed to submit reports on incomplete school buildings.
“In light of recent reports on ghost or uncompleted school buildings, the DepEd Central Office reminds all field offices of their responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in school infrastructure projects,” Bartolome said.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
He added that officials must identify irregularities and flag anomalous cases such as prolonged stoppages, incomplete delivery or structural defects.
“The consolidated reports shall be used by the central office to pursue corrective action, demand accountability and ensure learners receive safe and functional classrooms.”
“Every classroom we add brings hope and opportunity to learners. But delays in construction means children wait longer than they should,” Angara said in a statement.
“That is why we are looking for ways to build faster and smarter, with partners who are closest to the ground,” he added.
DEVOLVING THE TASK
Under the current setup, the DPWH is mandated to implement the construction of classrooms.
However, Angara finds it prudent to seriously consider transferring the responsibility to the local government units (LGUs), who he claimed are in the better position to identify sites, ensure completion and check on the quality of infrastructure.
The idea, he added, would hasten the national government’s bid to address the 165,000 classroom shortage in the country.
“It would be better if the LGU will do it because we can see that the construction of school buildings has slowed down in the last few decades because the DPWH is doing a lot and it’s not a priority to build classrooms. There are a lot of local government units in the cities, provinces that have the capacity and can also give funds,” Angara was quoted as saying in a PNA report.
COST-EFFICIENT TOO
Angara likewise took note of the cheaper construction cost of school buildings initiated by the private sector and civil society groups.
“Civil society groups and private organizations often build cheaper classrooms, sometimes with free labor,” he further said, even as he floated the idea of tapping them as “partners.”
Data gathered by The PH Insider showed that the standard cost of constructing a single classroom is pegged at P2.5 million to P3.7 million.
Despite a backlog of more than 165,000 classrooms nationwide, Angara said the DepEd can only build about 4,000 new classrooms this year — “If we don’t change our system, we won’t be able to solve it. Classroom backlogs will increase.”
For the next calendar year, the education chief said that the agency would ask Congress to fund the completion of classrooms turned over by the DPWH.
BUDGET REALIGNMENT
The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) recently backed the move to realign the budget for flood control projects to the education sector.
In a statement, COCOPEA chairperson Betty Cernol-McCann said the education sector’s urgent needs are being sidelined as government funds are diverted to other interests, Inquirer said.
“We urge the government to swiftly reallocate funds for public works to increase education budgets for scholarships, student and teacher subsidy programs and provide essential support to strengthen both public and private education,” it added.
On top of DepEd’s proposed P928.52-billion allocation for 2026, Angara recently urged Congress to realign the flood control budget and approve an additional P134.5 billion.
SELECTIVE DEVOLUTION
Angara also disclosed that DepEd is seeking “flexibility” through the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), subject to Congress’ approval, “so that LGUs and other partners may be engaged more directly in building classrooms.”
However, the secretary acknowledged that each LGU differs in capacity, with some having the technical expertise, financial resources and governance structures to move projects quickly, while others would need assistance.
Without delving into details, Angara seemed to be referring to Metro Manila cities operating on a 2025 budget as high as P49 billion.
ACCREDITATION SYSTEM
To address the predicament, Angara said DepEd is considering mechanisms such as an accreditation system to match responsibilities with readiness, as well as possible support windows for low-income LGUs through technical assistance, co-financing or clustering.
He clarified that the DPWH’s involvement in school infrastructure would remain an option where needed.
Angara stressed that addressing classroom shortages will require unity across sectors and levels of government.
“Our goal is simple: Every Filipino child deserves a safe and decent classroom. We may not get there overnight, but by working together and exploring new ways forward, we can move closer to that future,” quipped.