MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said that a total of 599 classrooms under construction in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas are expected to finish in 2022, specifically by May and August.
Citing a report from its Education Facilities Division (EFD), DepEd said around 259 classrooms are expected to be completed by the end of May, while 340 classrooms are set to be completed by August 2022.
“Most of our projects are all under construction. These classrooms and schools will soon host learners and teachers and they will have electricity, running water, and most importantly, they will have brand-new tables and chairs that they can use,” EFD Chief Annabelle Pangan said in a statement.
Completed school facilities include solar panels, school furniture, a water system, and other site improvements such as fencing, gate, site leveling, and soil protection, under DepEd’s Minimum Performance and Standards Specifications (MPSS) for School Buildings.
Meanwhile, DepEd had also been allocated P1.5 billion for the construction of 97 schools and 340 additional classrooms under the Last Mile Schools Program for fiscal year 2022. According to EFD, these projects are already underway amid the finalization of documentation.
The program’s priority schools were assessed and evaluated based on the following criteria: if the school is more than 4 kilometers from the regional/division office; if the school is made of makeshift materials and lacks permanent structures; if the school has not received infrastructure projects in the previous five years; and if the school lacks electricity and potable water supply.
“These schools with concrete walls, electricity and clean water are more than buildings. They represent hope for our learners, they are symbols that we care to bring education to the most challenged and remote places in the country,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.
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