PGMA orders DepEd to start building new schools
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Education to front load the construction of school buildings during the long summer vacation to ensure that they could be used at the start of School Year (SY) 2009-2010.
President Arroyo said that education was the foundation of economic prosperity and individual liberty, social justice and self-worth and it took a front seat in the national budget.
“No other issue is as important to Filipinos as the opportunity education affords the generation to be liberated from poverty and live life of hope, optimism and prosperity,” the President said.
Under the 2009 budget, P3.1 billion was earmarked for education, including the construction, repair and rehabilitation of classrooms under the 2009 School Building Projects.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the budget would be used in the construction and/or rehabilitation of school buildings and water sanitation facilities in areas experiencing acute classroom shortage (Red and Black schools).
School buildings will also be constructed in Southern Philippines under the Support to Philippine Education Reform (SPHERE) Projects.
“This is an important undertaking of the government that will benefit many sectors. It will fill the gap in classroom shortage and at the same time help pump up the economy by employing many people in the building and construction business,” Lapus said.
Lapus said the department targeted to build 1,908 new classrooms and 6,322 new toilets; and repair 2,513 existing classrooms and 194 toilets are targeted for completion prior to school opening in June 2009.
Lapus said that 274 new classrooms (NC) would be built in the National Capital Region (NCR) while 89 existing classrooms would be repaired. (PNA)