I FIND it downright absurd that the same problem–-the lack of classrooms--recurs every opening of classes in public schools. While the school officials may not have the early head count as to how many kids are going to enroll, they could at least have an estimate based on the figure of the enrollees in the previous school year.
The problem of the lack of classrooms every opening of classes in public schools is similar to the problem of missing voters’ names that the Commission on Elections encounters during elections that are held every three years, and yet during elections the same problem occurs.
Worse, it was reported that the Department of Education (DepEd) has a budget for the construction of school buildings. The DepEd officials explained that there is no more space for the school building. And, naturally, if fund allocation is not expended, this would go back to the national coffers.
If one would notice in public schools, most of the classrooms are now housed in high-rise school buildings of up to six or seven floors. The high-rise school buildings are the solution to the apparent lack of available land space. So, DepEd could have built more school buildings in anticipation of the increase of enrollees this year. But no additional high-rise school buildings were built for reasons that only the DepEd officials know.
The K12 program was already implemented since two years ago. So, the DepEd officials could not use the K12 as an excuse for the utter lack of classrooms, which is simply due to their ineptitude.
****
On July 1, 2019, the new leadership at Cebu City Hall will start its first day in office. The same is true in Lapu-Lapu City and in Mandaue City. Pajo Brgy. Capt. Ahong Chan in Lapu-Lapu City beat the returning former mayor Boy Radaza. Chan made it this time, his third try to take the city’s leadership from the Radazas.
In the cities of Mandaue and Cebu, the incumbent mayors lost. Rep. Jonas Cortes and his entire slate won over incumbent Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and his party. One of the candidates for councilor in the slate of Quisumbing could not believe that not one from their party won a seat.
In Cebu City, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and his running mate for vice mayor, former mayor Mike Rama, won over re-electionist Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his candidate for vice mayor Mary Ann delos Santos, but the BOPK councilors are the majority in the city council.
This early, some political pundits are already anticipating that Mayor Labella will have a hard time implementing his programs of government because the City Council is dominated by the allies of Mayor Tomas. But there are some positive thoughts. Some councilors may be loyal to Osmeña but their hearts are for the city and its people.
The situation in Cebu City is like a merry-go-round. The circumstances that Mayor Labella will face are similar to the problems that former mayor Rama had when he won his second term against Osmeña because the BOPK councilors dominated the Council. Rama could only do so much because some projects he submitted to the Council were blocked by the opposition councilors.