Senator Bam Aquino on Monday said the P65-billion allocation for classroom construction in this year’s national budget will not only reduce a backlog of 165,000 classrooms but also create over 100,000 jobs nationwide.
The Senate also approved the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, or Senate Bill No. 1482, on third and final reading with a unanimous 22-0 vote.
According to Aquino, building a single classroom typically requires four to six workers and takes three to four months to complete.
“Based on this estimate, if our target this year is to build 25,000 classrooms with our P65-billion fund, it will create more than 100,000 jobs,” said Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The program is expected to benefit local workers, including masons, construction laborers, and painters, by providing income to support their families’ daily needs.
Local government units can access the funds once they sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education.
Aquino pointed out that the classroom construction initiative will also strengthen local economies and provide opportunities for small businesses.
Local contractors will pay taxes to local governments, and small businesses will profit from supplying materials for classroom construction.
The initiative likewise addresses workers’ wages and income, which the Tugon ng Masa fourth-quarter 2025 survey by OCTA Research identified as a top priority for Filipinos.
The survey found 45 percent of respondents said improving wages and income is their main concern, highlighting the importance of job-creating programs.
