METRO MAYORS PARTNER WITH ANGARA TO ADDRESS SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS

Education Secretary Sonny Angara met with 11 Metro Manila mayors to address the region’s shortage of nearly 25,000 classrooms.

The meeting also included representatives from Quezon City, Pasig, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa, and focused on partnerships between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local governments to accelerate classroom construction under the 2026 budget.

DepEd data shows Calabarzon has the highest shortage with 31,002 classrooms, followed by Metro Manila with 24,847, while Luzon accounts for over half of the national deficit of 165,443 classrooms.

Angara emphasized that cooperation with LGUs is key to resolving the backlog and improving learning conditions, noting that 5,000 classrooms remain unfinished from the 2025 projects.

Studies also highlight severe overcrowding, especially in junior and senior high schools, and the need for at least 108,000 new classrooms nationwide.

Source: PhilNews24 | February 7, 2026