DPWH cites failed biddings for slow classroom construction

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday that failed biddings are among the reasons for the slow progress in classroom construction under the education sector's 2026 infrastructure budget.

During the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed 2027 budget, the report of Secretary Sonny Angara showed that the targeted 6,000 DPWH-led new classrooms, allocated P21.45 billion, are still under procurement.

“We’ve been encountering failure of biddings… We’ve been encountering quite a few failures in bidding; they've been concerned with the costing of classrooms with fuel price increases,” DPWH Undersecretary Lara Esquibil said.

She added that prospective project bidders found the allocated costs too low, but noted that the agency is now actively exploring strategies to minimize logistical expenses.

“But we are repackaging it to be more attractive to prospective bidders. Repackage it in order to minimize mobilization…. More strategic location,” Esquibil said.

According to the DPWH, out of the target new DPWH-led classrooms under the 2026 funds, it has advertised P7 billion, equivalent to around 2,000 classrooms.

At present, around P1.87 billion worth of projects are already in the advanced stages of procurement.

“We’re at post-qualification, finishing post-qualification and short of award, or awarded for P1.87 billion, which is 533 classrooms,” Esquibil said.

Senator Bam Aquino raised concern over the slow progress of procurement for the school building projects managed by the DPWH.

He inquired with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) whether the remaining untransferred funds could instead be allocated to other implementing entities, to which the DBM confirmed is still possible.

“Considering na October na… 8% pa lang yung napapa-bid out ninyo, 92% pa ‘yan, doon natin siya ilagay sa kabayong tumatakbo, ‘wag na doon sa kabayong hindi gumagalaw. That's my take,” Aquino proposed.

(Considering that it's already October… and you've only put 8% out for bidding while 92% remains, let's give the funds to the running horse rather than the horse that isn't moving. That's my take.)

Aquino noted that the remaining P13 billion that DPWH has yet to bid out could potentially fund the construction of around 4,000 additional classrooms.

The DPWH is only one of several implementing entities leading the construction of the targeted 18,950 new classrooms in 2026, which have a total allocated budget of P65.4 billion.

Other programs tasked with new infrastructure construction for 2026 include:

• LGU-led Implementation - 10,671 classrooms target; P37.02 billion budget
• DepEd Learning Continuity Spaces - 1,622 classrooms; P3.50 billion budget (352 completed)
• DepEd Last Mile Schools - 515 classrooms; P3.01 billion budget
• DepEd Acquisition - 142 classrooms; P500 million budget

The budget for new construction comprises 73.6% of DepEd’s total infrastructure budget for 2026. The remaining 26.4% was allocated for repairs and “others.” —LDF, GMA News