Metro mayors, Angara tackle classroom shortage

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February 6, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara met yesterday with 11 Metro Manila mayors to address the shortage of nearly 25,000 classrooms in the region.

Present during the meeting were Mayors Nancy Binay of Makati, Lani Cayetano of Taguig, Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Francis Zamora of San Juan, Along Malapitan of Caloocan, April Aguilar-Nery of Las Piñas, Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon, Maan Teodoro of Marikina, John Rey Tiangco of Navotas, Emi Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay and Gerald German of Pateros.

Representatives from the governments of Quezon City, Pasig, Parañaque and Muntinlupa also attended the meeting.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has finalized partnerships with local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the construction of classrooms under the 2026 national budget.

“We are excited about this collaboration because it will speed up and make the implementation of school projects more efficient,” Angara said.

“This is aligned with the directive of President Marcos to address classroom shortage and improve the learning environment of our students, through stronger national and local government collaboration,” he added.

According to DepEd data, Calabarzon has the highest classroom shortage with 31,002, followed by the National Capital Region with 24,847 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 13,237.

Luzon accounts for 54 percent of the classroom shortage estimated at 165,443.

Other regions with classroom shortages are Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Angara said cooperation between DepEd and LGUs is important to quickly resolve challenges in education.

The DepEd presented to Metro Manila mayors the guidelines on the construction and repair of school buildings under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

For 2025 alone, Angara said there are at least 5,000 unfinished classrooms after the Department of Public Works and Highways constructed only 100 classrooms.

“So there is a backlog of about 5,000 (classrooms),” Angara  said.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered an inventory of unfinished classrooms.

A study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) showed that classroom congestion is most severe in junior and senior high school levels, with up to 60 or more students per classroom.

The PDIS said while several public high schools in Metro Manila are crowded, congestion is highest in Sulu with 95.7 percent; Maguindanao del Sur, 76.8 percent; Maguindanao del Norte, 74.8 percent, and Basilan with 74.5 percent.

At least 108,000 new classrooms are needed to address congestion in public schools, the PDIS said.

According to the PDIS, aging school buildings reduce the number of usable classrooms and divert funding for repairs, limiting capacity expansion and prolonging congestion.