Only 3% of target classrooms built in 2023 – COA

Metro Manila, Philippines – Only 3% of the target classrooms were built in 2023 under then Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, a report from the Commission on Audit (COA) showed.

COA said only 192 out of the 6,379 classrooms were constructed in 2023 due to “realignments” and “modifications of the project’s designs.”

The audit body said over 4,300 classrooms are still under construction, while 550 have yet to go through various stages of procurement.

In terms of rehabilitation, COA findings also revealed nearly 3% of classrooms up for rehabilitation were only constructed.

“Of the targeted 7,550 classrooms to be repaired by DepEd, only 208 classrooms were completed, 2,135 are undergoing repair, while a very significant target of 5,207 are still to be procured,” said COA.

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The same report also showed that over 580,000 classroom seats have not been delivered on time because of contract delays.

“Based on the APP (annual procurement plan), the school furniture should have been delivered in May to June 2023; however, the contracts were only completed in December 2023, and the delivery is only expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024,” COA said.

State auditors also reported that only 3.41% of the 88 Last Mile School (LMS) buildings were completed in 2023. The LMS program is the Department of Education’s initiative to address gaps in resources in remote areas.

COA called on the agency to take action on issues that hinder the implementation of projects.

“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.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier vowed to address classroom shortage and fix the system through early procurement.

NewsWatch Plus sought the side of the Office of the Vice President. It has yet to respond.