Marcos vows no ghost classroom projects

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Announced on Wednesday that a newly signed memorandum of agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) will eliminate ghost projects and substandard classrooms as the government races to build new learning spaces nationwide.

Agreement aims to speed up classroom construction

The signing ceremony took place at Malacañan Palace on 11 February 2026, with representatives from more than 90 percent of the country’s provinces in attendance. Marcos emphasized that delegating funds directly to capable LGUs will make the process faster and more accountable.

How the partnership works

Under the pact, DepEd supplies funding, technical standards and standard classroom designs, while LGUs are responsible for procurement and construction in their jurisdictions. The department will identify priority schools, review plans, validate completed works and ensure compliance with national safety, accessibility and quality standards.

Financial commitments

The 2026 General Appropriations Act earmarked ₱85.39 billion for basic education facilities. For the first tranche, ₱9.6 billion has been allocated, with ₱4.1 billion slated for the construction of roughly 1,200 classrooms. In total, the tranche is expected to deliver 4,000 new classrooms nationwide, while more than ₱5 billion will fund about 2,800 prefabricated classrooms.

Did You Know? The agreement was signed in the presence of representatives from over 90 percent of the Philippines’ provinces, underscoring broad local support for the initiative.

Accountability measures

Marcos warned that LGUs will be held directly accountable for any “ghost project” or substandard work, noting that local officials are “right in front of” the communities they serve. Classroom turnover will require written validation from DepEd confirming that each project meets the established standards.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter explains that shifting funding control to LGUs could reduce bureaucratic delays, but it also places significant oversight responsibilities on local officials, making transparent monitoring essential to prevent misuse of resources.

Broader educational goals

Beyond new classrooms, the president highlighted the need to improve digital connectivity, noting that nearly 34,000 public schools already have internet access. He pledged that education will remain the administration’s top priority for the remainder of its term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main objective of the DepEd‑LGU agreement?

The agreement seeks to accelerate the construction of new classrooms, eliminate ghost projects and substandard construction, and ensure that funds are used efficiently through direct LGU involvement and DepEd oversight.

How many classrooms are expected to be built in the first tranche?

The first tranche is projected to deliver 4,000 new classrooms nationwide, including about 1,200 constructed with ₱4.1 billion and roughly 2,800 prefabricated units funded with more than ₱5 billion.

How does the partnership aim to prevent ghost projects?

By assigning construction responsibilities to LGUs that are directly accountable to their communities, requiring DepEd’s written validation of compliance, and establishing strict monitoring, reporting and transparency requirements.

What are your thoughts on the potential impact of this LGU‑led classroom construction strategy?