MANILA, Philippines ? The Muntinlupa City government will put up three new schools, including one for families affected by the Southrail project.

During the celebration of Muntinlupa's 13th cityhood anniversary last Saturday, Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said there was a need to build more classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students.

The new schools are Cupang High School, Bayanan High School and the Southville Elementary and High Schools inside the New Bilibid Prison reservation.

Southville is the government-funded housing project for residents facing relocation because of the Southrail rehabilitation project.

"This is in response to the growing student population in the city. It is up to us to try and lower the student-to-classroom ratio," San Pedro said.

At present, there are four public high schools in the city: Muntinlupa National High School, Pedro E. Diaz High School, Muntinlupa Science High School and Muntinlupa Business High School.

San Pedro said the student population in the four schools totaled 20,924 as of December, based on statistics from the Department of Education.

The average student to instructional room ratio in the four schools was 1:86 while the average teacher to student ratio was 1:45.

There are 17 public elementary schools in the city with a total population of 43,771.

According to San Pedro, the city government will initially build a four-story building for the new schools in Cupang and Bayanan.

It is also building a four-story school building for the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, a covered court and a perimeter fence for Muntinlupa Science High School, a two-story structure for special education at the Alabang Elementary School and a four-story building for the Sucat Elementary School.