LEGAZPI CITY—At least 80 new and newly repaired classroom buildings for public schools in Bicol would open in time for the start of the new school year this June, a top public works official said on Friday.
Engineer Danilo Dequito, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said in a statement that 26 of the school buildings are in Camarines Sur, 20 in Masbate, 16 in Albay, 10 in Sorsogon, eight in Camarines Norte and two in Catanduanes.
Dequito said the construction of the school buildings was finished ahead of school opening on June 4.
He said last year and in the early part of 2012, almost the entire region was hit by calamities that delayed the construction and repair of school buildings.
“Only during the second quarter of this year did good weather condition enable the DPWH to construct or repair the school buildings,” said Dequito.
He said the DPWH is also conducting regular maintenance work, including filling potholes and repainting pavements along national roads near school sites, to help ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists.
Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier issued Department Order No. 29 directing all DPWH field officials to enforce an order to remove road obstructions.
The order listed among the obstructions as houses, shanties, stores, shops, sheds, posts, canopies, billboards, signages, advertisements, fences, walls, railings and basketball courts.
Singson listed some activities that encroach on sidewalks and roads as vending, repair of vehicles, disposal of household or commercial and industrial waste water and sewage, raising of animals, growing of crops, washing and drying of clothes and holding of sports events.