The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has only completed 22 classrooms this year out of a target of 1,700, according to Secretary Vince Dizon. During a Senate hearing, he said that 882 projects are still underway while the remaining 882 have not yet started. According to Senator Bam Aquino, if this pace continues, the shortage of classrooms nationwide will increase.
Aquino supported the Classroom Acceleration Bill, where funds for the construction of classrooms would be given directly to local government units (LGUs) instead of the DPWH. Dizon agreed and also suggested the use of public-private partnership (PPP) to speed up construction.
According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DPWH's 625 billion budget could be cut by more than ₱348 billion due to more than 6,000 red-flagged projects. The committee noted projects with no exact location, as well as duplicate projects such as a building in Muntinlupa with both a “construction” and “rehabilitation” budget in the same year.
Senator Loren Legarda said that the DPWH's total funding could be reduced by 25% to 30% due to reports of overpricing. Dizon admitted that there are projects that are actually overpriced by more than 20% to 30% in some regions and promised to immediately adjust the prices of materials such as cement and steel.
Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito proposed using part of the ₱250 billion flood control fund for major projects such as floodways, dams, and spillways. Dizon promised that the agency would follow a stricter plan to prevent waste of funds and corruption.
