The government is preparing a significant increase in funding for school construction and rehabilitation next year, with the Marcos administration proposing a P44.58-billion allocation for education infrastructure in 2026 as it works to ease classroom shortages and modernize learning spaces.
The funding request forms part of the P1.38-trillion education budget outlined in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently forwarded to Congress. Under the proposal, the Department of Education would receive P928.5 billion, the largest share of the package.
DBM officer in charge Rolly Toledo described the infrastructure component as central to the spending plan, noting that new procurement rules are being implemented to speed up construction. “With the DBM and the Government Procurement Policy Board operationalizing the National Government Procurement Act, we are ushering in procurement strategies that will deliver classrooms faster, more efficiently and with greater transparency and accountability,” he said.
A large portion of the infrastructure budget targets the construction of 4,900 additional classrooms alongside the repair of more than 9,400 existing ones across the country. Another major initiative is the restoration of more than a hundred historic Gabaldon school buildings, with P1.134 billion dedicated to bringing back these structures that date to the American colonial period.
Separately, the government plans to allocate P3 billion to build 200 “last mile” schools in far-flung communities. These sites are designed to operate independently, with solar power systems, potable water, sanitation amenities and standard furniture.
Disaster-hit campuses are also a priority. About P9.39 billion is earmarked for work on 1,300 schools damaged by calamities, covering more than 13,000 classrooms under the Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools Project.
The budget plan also includes provisions for furnishings for 18,000 classrooms, electricity for over 400 schools, and the establishment of 300 new health and sanitation facilities.
Toledo said these efforts aim to create learning environments that support student well-being. “These investments ensure that learning environments are not only structurally sound but also holistic, functional and conducive to student well-being,” he said.
He characterized the 2026 proposal as the administration’s strongest push yet for educational improvement, noting that the sector’s allocation amounts to 4 percent of the country’s GDP, the biggest on record. “Together with DepEd, we are promoting more flexible and innovative ways of building classrooms. We will not rely on a single implementing agency. We will empower LGUs, civil society organizations and partners closest to the communities,” he said.
“This is how we make every peso count. Every classroom we build is a statement of hope. Every repaired structure is a promise kept. Every safe, dignified learning space is a legacy we give our children,” he added.
