Several celebrities have spoken out after Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon admitted that only 22 classrooms were completed out of the government’s target of 1,700 for the past year — a revelation that has sparked public outrage over alleged inefficiency and possible corruption within the agency.
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on October 20, Sec. Dizon confirmed the figures, calling the current pace of classroom construction “deplorable.” He also vowed to investigate the cause of the delay, whether due to funding issues or bureaucratic bottlenecks, and to coordinate with Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who recently revealed that the country is short by over 150,000 classrooms nationwide.
Actress-host Anne Curtis reposted the report on her Instagram Stories with a strong message of frustration: “ANO NA?! Classrooms are needed so badly for children. Especially in regions that struggle the most!”
Her reaction echoed the sentiments of many Filipinos online who criticized the DPWH’s performance amid the ongoing education crisis.
Meanwhile, fellow actress and advocate Nadine Lustre also shared the news on her Instagram Story, expressing visible disappointment at the state of public infrastructure and governance.
Jasmine Curtis-Smith couldn’t hide her disbelief, posting a blunt reaction on social media: “How do they sleep at night?”
Veteran actor Edu Manzano directly linked the issue to corruption, saying: “Every act of corruption takes away our children’s education, their dreams, and their futures.”
Anne Curtis and Nadine Lustre have been among the most outspoken celebrities in calling for government transparency and accountability. Both actively participated in the Trillion Peso March protest last month, held along EDSA, which called for the return of stolen public funds and an end to systemic corruption.
Following the rally, Anne shared an impassioned post on Instagram: “May this be the generation that breaks the chains of corruption—it must end. What was stolen was never theirs to keep, but ours to build the Philippines we love and the future we deserve.”
The DPWH has faced a series of controversies in recent months, including allegations of anomalies in flood control projects and irregularities in infrastructure spending. The latest revelation about the classroom backlog has further fueled public distrust.
Sec. Dizon, who assumed office in September 2025, assured the Senate that the department will accelerate construction and ensure that all pending projects are properly audited and completed.
However, for many citizens — and now, some of the country’s most influential celebrities — the numbers speak for themselves.
As Anne Curtis summed up in her post: “Our children deserve better.”
