DepEd built only 192 classrooms out of 6K target in 2023 —COA

The Department of Education (DepEd) built only 192 classrooms or 3 percent out of its target 6,379 rooms in 2023, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

“Only 192 (3.01 percent) out of 6,379 classrooms were completed/constructed in 2023 due to realignments because of modifications in the projects’ design,” COA said in its annual audit report on the agency for 2023.

“A total of 4,391 classrooms are still under construction, and 550 are yet to undergo various stages of procurement,” COA added.

The same report also showed that while the DepEd’s Annual Procurement Plan (APP) stated that the delivery of 580,394 school furniture, particularly seats, should happen from May to June 2023, the contracts for these were only completed in December 2023.

“Thus, the target of 580,394 school seats to be delivered in 2023 was not accomplished,” COA added.

Likewise, the same report said that the DepEd was only able to complete the repair and rehabilitation of 208 classrooms, way behind the target of 7,550 rooms.

Of the 7,550 classrooms for repair and rehabilitation, COA said 2,135 are still undergoing repair while 5,207 are still up for procurement.

The total cost of the above mentioned items under the Basic Education Facilities program is worth at least P816 million.

“The high rate on obligations does not fully indicate effectiveness and efficiency since these obligations are only valid commitments based on the awarded contracts/purchase orders where goods are not yet delivered and projects are not yet started,” COA said.

“The Agency (DepEd) must take actions to address issues and concerns that hinder the implementation of projects so that optimum results and benefits on the completed projects would be realized as timely as intended,” COA added.

In response, DepEd said in the same COA report that the delay in the procurement process of school furniture was “due to revisions and approval of the technical specifications.”

As for the delayed repair and rehabilitation of classrooms, the DepEd said that it was ready to conduct Early Procurement Activities (EPA) for this program and the preliminary activities had already been completed.

However, this did not happen since the 2023 national budget law transferred the task of repair and rehabilitation of classrooms under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“When this was transferred to DPWH for implementation per GAA (General Appropriations Act or national budget law) 2023, the DPWH had to do their own revalidation and programming of the works. Thus, said transfer caused a delay in the implementation,” the DepEd said.

In addition, the DepEd told state auditors that it already has catch-up plans for the unutilized/underutilized allotments for the fiscal year 2023 involving school infrastructure and facilities, curriculum and teaching, and administration.

Vice President Sara Duterte concurrently served as DepEd Secretary until her resignation on June 19, 2024.  She was replaced by then-Senator Sonny Angara, who assumed the post on July 20.

Angara vowed to address the backlogs in the COA report when questioned by Zamboanga del Norte lawmaker Adrian Amatong.

“We talk about improving the learning environment, about computers and textbooks, but if there are no classrooms, what kind of environment are we providing?” Amatong asked during Monday’s deliberation on DepEd’s proposed P798 billion budget for 2025.

In response, Angara said, “We are committed to making extraordinary efforts to address these concerns. We see the low obligation rates and undelivered resources, and we know this cannot continue. We will change the system.” 

Duterte's office, through Michael Poa, her former spokesperson at the DepEd, was also contacted for its reaction. —LDF, GMA Integrated News