A new DepEd school building follows one paint schedule whoever pays for it: a Baguio Green roof, Ivory White walls outside, Cream walls inside and a White ceiling. Only the doors, window jambs and exterior columns change color, with the funding source. DepEd Order (DO) No. 022, s. 2026, the Enhanced Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications for DepEd School Infrastructure and School Furniture, sets the schedule in its standards for finishes, painting color, chalkboards and markings (Encl., Sec. VI.A.6), along with the size of the chalkboard, the markings on the roof and what a wall may carry. The standards apply to projects “funded under Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations and thereafter” whose procurement had not commenced when the order took effect; FY 2026 projects and those already in procurement stay under DO 64, s. 2017 and DO 006, s. 2021 (paras. 5 and 6).

In the studio below, pick a paint, then a part of the building, in the list or on the drawing. The studio says at once whether that is the schedule’s color. Paint it to standard shows the whole schedule, Roof paints the roof markings, and Inside asks what may go on a classroom wall. The room these colors go on is in The DepEd Standard Classroom: An Interactive Model.

Paint studio

Roof markings

Where
On the main building or the tallest structure of the campus
DepEd logo
3.80 m high and 7.60 m long, in the existing DepEd logo design
School ID Number
2.0 m high and 0.30 m thick, blue with a white outline
In the Manual
"In a vertical position", with no other elements; the number in Arial bold, its outline 100 mm thick (DO 031, s. 2019)
Between them
At least 2.00 m

123307 is an example School ID. Which marking comes first and the slope they are on are the drawing's. The Manual sets the number in Arial bold; the drawing's block digits only show its size.

On the wall: allowed or not? Try each one

The chalkboard on the far wall is 4.88 m wide and 1.22 m high, to scale.

These are the rules for a building built under DO 022. For every classroom, new and old, DM 027, s. 2026 requires bare walls.

1. Pick a paint
2. Apply it to a part

Pick a paint, then a part of the building: in the list, or on the drawing.

0 of 8 parts are to standard.

DepEd Order No. 022, s. 2026, Encl., Secs. VI.A.3, VI.A.4 and VI.A.6; Tables 2.0 and 3.0. DepEd Order No. 031, s. 2019, Manual, Roof Markings

A paint studio for the finishes of DepEd Order No. 022, s. 2026. The paints' names, Pantone references and hex values are the order's, as are the 2.70 m minimum ceiling height, the two doors of each classroom at their least clear size (0.90 m by 2.10 m), windows on both long walls, the chalkboard's size, the roof markings' sizes with their 2.00 m least gap, and the brass marker's largest size. The rest is the drawing's: where the doors, windows and columns stand, the windows' size, the roof's slope, the board's color, frame and height above the floor, and where each wall display hangs. The whiteboard each classroom also has would be on the wall behind the viewer, and the unpainted gray is no color of the order. The DepEd logo is DepEd's, shown as the roof marking the order requires; NASH Reviewer is not affiliated with DepEd. Studio: © 2026 Mark Anthony Llego, NASH Reviewer.

Key findings

  • One schedule for every funder. “All prescribed paint colors and paint codes shall be uniformly applied across all funding sources” (Encl., Table 2.0).
  • Seven parts, seven colors. Baguio Green roofing, a White ceiling, Ivory White exterior walls and beams, Cream interior walls and beams, Metallic Gray grilles and railings, Beige baseboards, and Red accent and safety strips (Table 2.0).
  • Doors, window jambs and exterior columns. Their colors “may differ based on the funding source”: Palmyra Green, Dark Brown, Dark Blue or Dark Green (Table 2.0).
  • The paint itself. “All paints for interior and exterior surfaces shall be lead-safe, non-toxic, and low-VOC” (Sec. VI.A.6.a.1).
  • Boards. Each classroom has “a built-in chalkboard and laminate whiteboard, each measuring 4.88 meters (width) x 1.22 meters (height)” (Sec. VI.A.6.b.1).
  • Roof markings. They “shall include only the DepEd logo (DO No. 69, s. 2003) and the official School ID Number”, on the main building or the tallest structure of the campus (Sec. VI.A.6.c; Table 3.0).
  • Walls. They “shall remain clean and free from unnecessary markings or decorations”, with three kinds of display excepted and a brass marker of at most 0.60 m by 1.0 m on a designated wall section (Sec. VI.A.6.d). For every classroom, new and old, DepEd’s 2026 Brigada Eskwela guidelines require bare walls.

The paint schedule: Table 2.0

Table 2.0 names each part’s color, its Pantone or other reference, an approximate hex value, and a recommended material.

Part Color Pantone / reference Approx. hex Recommended material or type
Roofing and accessories Baguio Green 19-6350 TPG #355C3F Pre-painted galvanized steel
Ceiling White 11-4001 TCX #FFFFFF Matte acrylic latex
Exterior walls and beams Ivory White 11-0602 TCX #F2F0EB Acrylic or elastomeric paint
Interior walls and beams Cream 11-0518 TSX #FFF9D2 Acrylic latex / low-VOC paint
Grilles and railings Metallic Gray 17-4017 TCX #7E8086 Anti-corrosive enamel
Baseboards Beige (lightest) 13-1011 TPG #F7F1E8 Acrylic or enamel paint
Accent and safety strips Red 185 C #E41B17 Anti-slip paint or tape

The light colors have a reason. New school buildings “shall adhere to a uniform color scheme in light and warm tones. This approach is intended to minimize heat absorption, enhance a bright and conducive learning environment, and promote energy efficiency” (Sec. VI.A.6.a.2).

Doors, window jambs and columns: the funding source’s color

One part of the schedule is not uniform. For doors, window jambs and exterior columns, “Paint colors may differ based on the funding source.” The table lists four colors, each in enamel, acrylic or latex paint.

Color Funding source, as Table 2.0 prints it Pantone / reference Approx. hex
Palmyra Green DepEd 14-0232 TCX #A1CA7A
Dark Brown DepEd LMS 19-0912 TPX #4D433E
Dark Blue PPP, CSO, ODA 19-3864 TCX #102E6F
Dark Green LGU Implemented 18-6024 TCX #1F7349

The order does not spell out LMS; DepEd uses it for its Last Mile Schools program. PPP, CSO and ODA are public-private partnerships, civil society organizations and official development assistance, and LGU is local government unit. On a building painted to this schedule, the doors, window jambs and exterior columns are the only parts whose color varies with the funding source.

Rules for every paint job

Four rules stand over the schedule (Sec. VI.A.6.a):

  1. Safe paint. Paints “shall be lead-safe, non-toxic, and low-VOC to ensure safety, clean air, and easy maintenance in all learning spaces.”
  2. One scheme. “All new school buildings, regardless of funding source, shall adhere to a uniform color scheme in light and warm tones.”
  3. Local culture, with consent. “Design features or architectural accents that reflect local culture may be integrated into school buildings”, if “supported by applicable national or local ordinances and regulations, and subject to the prior written concurrence of the EFD and other concerned offices.” EFD is the Education Facilities Division.
  4. Consistency. “Efforts shall be undertaken, as far as practicable, to promote consistency and visual uniformity across all public-school buildings.”

A different color is a deviation, and the section opens with the rule for that: “Any changes, deviations, or substitutions require review and written approval by the EFD Planning and Design Unit” (Sec. VI.A.6). The same opening allows new materials only when they are “formally proposed and approved, provided they meet or exceed the minimum standards.” A partner’s proposal for a new design or an added design element goes through the Division Engineer, who endorses it to the Central Office’s EFD “for review and recommendation for approval” (Sec. X.C.c).

Buildings the schedule does not govern

An exclusion clause follows Table 2.0 (Sec. VI.A.6.a):

For structures covered by specific national laws and IRRs—such as heritage buildings, Gabaldon schoolhouses, and Kindergarten or Preschool facilities—the design, color scheme, materials, and construction details prescribed by those laws shall take precedence. These buildings shall comply with approved heritage or special standards, and any alteration require [sic] coordination and approval from DepEd Central Office-EFD, the Cultural Agencies, and other relevant authorities.

A Gabaldon schoolhouse follows its heritage standards, not Table 2.0.

Older buildings

The schedule binds new work. Rule 2 above speaks of “all new school buildings”, and the order’s scope covers “the planning, design, construction, improvement, retrofitting, repair, and rehabilitation of public elementary and secondary school buildings and school furniture” (Encl., Sec. II). A repair or repainting funded from FY 2027 therefore follows Table 2.0. No provision requires an existing building to be repainted to it.

The chalkboard and the whiteboard

“Each classroom shall have a built-in chalkboard and laminate whiteboard, each measuring 4.88 meters (width) x 1.22 meters (height), installed at heights following DepEd DAED details” (Sec. VI.A.6.b.1). DAED is the Detailed Architectural and Engineering Design, the approved plans. The order also asks for more than these two boards: “Provision for digital or interactive boards shall be included to support technology-enhanced learning” (Sec. VI.A.6.b.2).

The studio’s inside view draws the chalkboard to scale on the far wall; the whiteboard would be on the wall behind the viewer. Table 2.0 gives the boards no paint color.

Roof markings: the logo and the School ID

“Roof markings shall be applied on the main building or the tallest structure within the school campus”, and they “shall include only the DepEd logo (DO No. 69, s. 2003) and the official School ID Number” (Secs. VI.A.6.c.1 and VI.A.6.c.2). Table 3.0 gives their sizes and colors.

Marking Size Color
DepEd logo 3.80 m high, 7.60 m long The existing DepEd logo design
School ID Number 2.0 m high, 0.30 m thick Blue, with a white outline

“Distance between the DepEd Logo and School ID Number shall be at least 2.00 meters” (Table 3.0, note). For the logo, Table 3.0 refers to DO No. 69, s. 2003, DepEd Logo, and DO 031, s. 2019, The Department of Education Service Marks and Visual Identity Manual. Size, color, placement and orientation “shall follow DepEd-approved standards to ensure visibility and uniformity” (Sec. VI.A.6.c.3).

The Manual adds three details. The markings “should be in a vertical position and no other elements should be added to ensure legibility, visibility, and recognizability”, and the School ID Number is set in Arial bold, in blue “with white outline 100 mm thick” (DO 031, s. 2019, Manual, Roof Markings). The guide to the DepEd seal, logo and letterhead covers the Manual.

Wall markings: what a wall may carry

“All walls shall remain clean and free from unnecessary markings or decorations” (Sec. VI.A.6.d.1). Three kinds of display “may be painted or displayed in designated prominent areas”:

  • “DepEd Name, Seal, Logo, Mission, Vission [sic], and Core Values”
  • “Portraits and Sayings of National Heroes”
  • “School Name, ID Number, and Location”

Donors get one place. “A designated wall section for brass marker not exceeding 0.60 m (width) x 1.0 m (height) may be used to recognize sponsors, donors, political figures or school partners, provided that the recognition follows a standard metal plaque format securely mounted on the wall” (Sec. VI.A.6.d.2).

The rest is ruled out by name: “Unnecessary or distracting wall materials — including additional posters, rotating suspended materials, and decorative items — are not allowed inside classrooms or on building walls. Only displays that support learning or required school advisories may be installed within the designated section” (Sec. VI.A.6.d.3).

These are the rules for a building built under DO 022. For all classrooms, new and old, DepEd’s 2026 Brigada Eskwela guidelines go further: “Classroom walls shall remain bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials” (DepEd Memorandum (DM) No. 027, s. 2026, Encl., Sec. B.3). The two texts differ on learning displays, and as of November 11, 2026, no issuance has reconciled them. The course that satisfies both: keep classroom walls free of posters and decorations, and in a building built to DO 022, put required advisories and any learning displays in its designated section.

What this means for school heads

When a building built under DO 022 is turned over, and each time someone offers to repaint or decorate it, check it against Sec. VI.A.6:

  1. The schedule. The roof, ceiling, walls, grilles, baseboards and safety strips carry Table 2.0’s colors, whoever funded the building.
  2. The doors and columns. Their color is the funding source’s, one of the four in Table 2.0.
  3. A request for other colors. It is a deviation. It needs “review and written approval by the EFD Planning and Design Unit.”
  4. The donor’s name. Recognition goes on a brass marker of at most 0.60 m by 1.0 m, on the wall section designated for it. A donor’s name is not among the wall displays Sec. VI.A.6.d.1 allows, and the roof takes only the logo and the School ID Number (Sec. VI.A.6.c.2).
  5. The walls. Apart from the three displays of Sec. VI.A.6.d.1 and the brass marker, only displays that support learning and required school advisories, within the designated section. In every classroom, DM 027, s. 2026 asks for bare walls.
  6. The roof. If the building is the school’s main building or its tallest structure, its roof carries the DepEd logo and the School ID Number, and nothing else.

The Schools Division Office’s Division Engineer or Architect monitors construction against the approved design and plans (Sec. XI.C.b). Keeping a building to its standard is part of managing school facilities and equipment in PPSSH Domain 2, Managing School Operations and Resources. The wider standards for buildings are in School Building and Furniture Standards: DO 022, s. 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What colors are the roof and walls of a DepEd school building?

The roof is Baguio Green (Pantone 19-6350 TPG, about #355C3F), in pre-painted galvanized steel. The walls are Ivory White outside (11-0602 TCX, about #F2F0EB) and Cream inside (11-0518 TSX, about #FFF9D2), with a White ceiling and Beige baseboards. The schedule is the same whatever the funding source (DO 022, s. 2026, Encl., Table 2.0).

Why are the doors of some school buildings green and others blue or brown?

The color of the doors, window jambs and exterior columns may differ with the funding source: Palmyra Green for DepEd, Dark Brown for DepEd LMS, Dark Blue for PPP, CSO and ODA, and Dark Green for LGU Implemented (Table 2.0). Every other part of the building keeps the same color whoever funded it.

How big is the chalkboard in a DepEd classroom?

4.88 m wide and 1.22 m high. Each classroom has a built-in chalkboard and a laminate whiteboard of that size, installed at the heights the approved plans give, with provision for digital or interactive boards (Secs. VI.A.6.b.1 and VI.A.6.b.2).

What is painted on the roof of a school?

Only the DepEd logo, 3.80 m high and 7.60 m long, and the official School ID Number, 2.0 m high and 0.30 m thick in blue with a white outline, at least 2.00 m apart. They go on the main building or the tallest structure of the campus (Sec. VI.A.6.c; Table 3.0).

Can a school put posters on classroom walls?

In a building built under DO 022, “additional posters, rotating suspended materials, and decorative items” are “not allowed inside classrooms or on building walls”, while displays that support learning and required school advisories may be installed within the designated section (Sec. VI.A.6.d.3). For every classroom, DepEd’s 2026 Brigada Eskwela guidelines require walls “bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials” (DM 027, s. 2026, Encl., Sec. B.3). Keep walls free of posters and decorations, and put required advisories and learning displays in the designated section.

Sources

DepEd issuances

  • DepEd Order No. 022, s. 2026, Enhanced Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications for DepEd School Infrastructure and School Furniture, September 24, 2026. Paras. 5 and 6; Encl., Secs. II, IV, VI.A.3, VI.A.4, VI.A.6, X.C and XI.C; Tables 2.0 and 3.0.
  • DepEd Order No. 69, s. 2003, DepEd Logo, August 20, 2003.
  • DepEd Order No. 031, s. 2019, The Department of Education Service Marks and Visual Identity Manual, November 4, 2019.
  • DepEd Memorandum No. 027, s. 2026, 2026 Brigada Eskwela Implementing Guidelines, May 5, 2026. Encl., Sec. B.3.
  • DepEd Order No. 64, s. 2017, Establishing the Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications for DepEd School Buildings, December 15, 2017.
  • DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2021, Re-Establishment of Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications for DepEd School Buildings Using Alternative Construction Materials, February 8, 2021.
  • DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020, National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads, September 7, 2020.

The school building standards series

Written by Mark Anthony Llego for NASH Reviewer. Sources: DepEd Order No. 022, s. 2026 and DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020. The studio may be reused only with written permission from support@nash.com.ph.