Bam Aquino eyes probe into delayed P67-billion classroom fund rollout

Senator Bam Aquino is set to prioritize several education reforms after returning as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, including measures aimed at addressing the country’s 166,000-classroom backlog.

Among the key issues Aquino plans to look into is the slow rollout of the P67-billion allocation for classroom construction, which was included in the national budget to help ease shortages in public schools.

The senator also urged the government to immediately release funds for the repair of classrooms damaged by the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao.

“Ayon sa DepEd, mahigit 1,000 classrooms ang nasira ng lindol sa Mindanao. Dapat bilisan ang paglalabas ng pondo upang maisaayos ang mga ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” he said.

(According to the Department of Education, more than 1,000 classrooms were damaged by the earthquake in Mindanao. The release of funds should be expedited so these can be repaired as soon as possible.)

Sen. Bam said one of his top priorities is scrutinizing the slow rollout of the P67-billion allocation that he helped secure in the 2026 national budget for the construction of 25,000 classrooms.

Despite the substantial allocation under the historic P1.34-trillion education budget, the Senator noted that classroom construction has yet to begin even as the rainy season approaches, raising concerns about possible delays in project implementation.

“Tututukan natin iyong krisis sa edukasyon. Unang-una, iimbestigahan natin ang P67 billion na nakalaan para sa classrooms. (We will focus on the education crisis. First, we will investigate the P67 billion allocated for classrooms),” said Sen. Bam, who regained the Basic Education chairmanship following the recent Senate leadership change under acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

“Alam nating napakabagal ng pag-deploy nito at nais nating malaman kung paano ito papabilisan ngayon na umuulan na ulit at mas mahirap nang gumawa ng classroom,” he added.

(We know the deployment has been very slow, and we want to find out how to speed it up now that the rainy season has started again and building classrooms has become more difficult.)

Sen. Bam also committed to pushing for the passage of a National Feeding Program that would institutionalize the provision of free and nutritious meals to all kindergarten to Grade 3 students.

“Pangalawa, ipapasa natin iyong reporma sa ating nutrition program kasi mahalaga po na may pagkain ang ating kabataan at dito sa repormang ito, masisigurado natin na Kinder to Grade 3 mayroong masustansiyang pagkain. (Second, we will pass reforms in our nutrition program because it is important that our children have food, and through this reform, we can ensure that Kindergarten to Grade 3 students receive nutritious meals),” said Sen. Bam, who is slated to sponsor the proposed measure expanding the country’s National Feeding Program in July.

The senator also identified other priority reforms, including the passage of the School Safety Act to combat bullying and the School-to-Employment Program to help ensure that K-to-12 graduates can secure jobs after completing their studies.

Sen. Bam expressed optimism that the Senate would unite behind measures that address the country’s education challenges.

“Napakarami pa pong kailangang tugunan at sana po magkaisa tayo para tugunan ang mga problemang ito, mabigyan ng tutok natin ang mga problema ng kabataan at ng kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” he said.

(There are still many issues that need to be addressed, and I hope we can unite in solving these problems so we can focus on the concerns of the youth and the future of our country.)

At the same time, Sen. Bam reiterated his call for the passage of his Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA)-Blockchain the Budget Bill, which seeks to improve transparency and accountability in government spending.

“Marami pa rin pong mga issue sa korapsyon na hindi pa nareresolba at mahalaga na ma-blockchain na iyong budget para alam ng taumbayan kung saan napupunta iyong pera nila. Makakatulong din ito para masigurado na iyong pondo para sa edukasyon, na siyang pinakamataas sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ay magagamit nang tama,” he pointed out.

(There are still many unresolved corruption issues, and it is important to put the budget system on blockchain so the public knows where their money is going. This will also help ensure that education funds, which are the highest in Philippine history, are properly used.)

Senate Bill No. 1506, which was approved on third and final reading by a 17-0 vote, mandates all government agencies to upload and maintain detailed budget-related documents—including contracts, project costs, bills of materials, and procurement records—on a Digital Budget Platform.

The system is designed to ensure that all files are publicly accessible, tamper-resistant, traceable, open-source, and verifiable, allowing citizens to better monitor how public funds are spent.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam called on the government to fast-track the release of funds for the repair of classrooms in areas devastated by the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao, particularly in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) and Davao Region.

“Ayon sa DepEd, mahigit 1,000 classrooms ang nasira ng lindol sa Mindanao. Dapat bilisan ang paglalabas ng pondo upang maisaayos ang mga ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” he said.