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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Region 7 gets P77M to build classrooms
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Central Visayas will get P77.22 million of the P1-billion allocation this year for the construction of classrooms in congested schools.
A list of congressional allocations for the school building program under the Department of Education (DepEd) Office of Planning Service shows that Central Visayas got the third highest allocation among the regions in the country.
The public works department will implement these projects.
Cebu Province will also get the biggest share among the provinces and cities in Region 7, with an allocation of P30.67 million.
The funds will be for all six legislative districts, including the cities of Talisay, Toledo, Danao, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
Cebu City will get a separate allocation of P13.074 million.
Lists
However, work on the projects has yet to start. This is because the priority listing still needs the concurrence of the congressmen.
Victor Yntig, DepEd 7 physical facilities coordinator, said most of the schools division superintendents and district engineers confirmed that they are ready with the lists.
But they are still waiting for the signatures of the district representatives.
When asked if lawmakers could change the beneficiaries of the school building program (SBP), Dr. Marcial Degamo, DepEd 7 physical facilities consultant, said lawmakers may decide to prioritize other schools under their legislative districts.
Yntig said that previously, lawmakers only reviewed the lists of beneficiaries for SBP under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
But starting this year, the district representatives will also check the list of priority areas identified under DepEd’s P1-billion allocation for classrooms.
The DPWH and DepEd each get a P1-billion allocation for the construction of classrooms this year.
“We cannot speculate (if politics will be involved in the choice of beneficiaries). However, with the move of congressional representatives (to review the list), they could hopefully facilitate the immediate release of the funds. Hopefully, dili na ma-delayed,” Yntig said.
However, Degamo said problems in acquiring lots for school sites and the refusal of contractors to bid for the construction are among the causes of delay for most projects.
60 percent
He said for last year’s SBP, only 60 percent of the targeted number of classrooms was completed. About 200 classrooms have yet to be constructed since the plans are still subject to review or redesign.
Worse, some projects need to be relocated due to problems in the terrain of the original sites.
Degamo added that they have yet to determine the number of classrooms that could be built with the budget this year, since most school administrators, especially in urban areas, opt for high-rise school buildings to maximize space.
Priority will be given to schools where 46 or more students occupy one classroom.
Degamo said they expect fewer classrooms that can be completed with the allocation, if high-rise buildings are built.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 25, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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