Makabayan seeks investigation into slow classroom construction
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM In this file photo, a public school teacher in Camalig, Albay holds a class under a tree for students whose families have been forced to leave their communities as Mayon Volcano starts to get restive. —Contributed picture from TUMPA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is being asked to probe another issue yet, as Makabayan bloc lawmakers filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the slow classroom construction rate under the previous and current administrations.
Makabayan — composed of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co — filed House Resolution (HR) No. 425 for this purpose on Tuesday.
The lawmakers are asking the House committee to check on the “extremely low performance” of the school building program during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Makabayan, the National Expenditures Program (NEP) or the executive-submitted budget from 2020 to 2026 showed that the program has never met its targets, with figures showing as low as 11 classrooms constructed in 2018, in contrast to a target of 47,000.
“The Makabayan Bloc, during the current and previous Congresses, revealed and criticized the lack of intention of the Marcos Jr. administration to address the perennial problem of classroom shortage in the Philippines,” Makabayan said in HR No. 425.
“The National Expenditures Programs FYs (fiscal year) 2020 to 2026 reveals the dismal performance of new classroom construction of the Department of Education (DepEd) at least since 2018 under the Duterte and Marcos administrations,” it reported.
According to the group, the House committee on basic education must investigate this low performance, as it indicates that the government has prioritized projects prone to corruption over programs that benefit the people, especially students.
“It is imperative to Congress to investigate the very low performance, low budgets, and low targets in constructing the much-needed new classrooms,” the bloc said.
“It shows not only the lack of intent of the Marcos administration to address the problems in the education sector, but also how it prioritizes funding and implementation of flood control projects,” Makabayan said.
“Instead of allotting sufficient budget for the needs of the Filipino people, the national budget was funneled to corruption-prone programs and projects, such as flood control projects, farm-to-market roads, multipurpose buildings, the Barangay Development Fund, Unprogrammed Appropriations, confidential fund, and intelligence fund, that will yield more kickbacks for corrupt government officials,” it pointed out.
Classroom shortages and backlogs are major issues in the Philippine education sector, with Education Secretary Sonny Angara admitting that the country lacks 165,000 classrooms.
He said it might take 55 years to resolve the matter at the current pace.
Last September, Angara called Senator Bam Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) bill a “breath of fresh air” as it will greatly help the agency address the classroom backlog.
On Monday, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima filed House Bill (HB) No. 5751 which is a counterpart measure to Aquino’s CAP bill.
READ: Angara: Aquino’s bill addressing classroom backlog “breath of fresh air”
However, whether or not the House will have the time to investigate various matters is another question.
HR No. 425 is the latest in a string of resolutions filed by minority lawmakers.
On Monday, Makabayan also filed a resolution seeking a congressional probe on possible corruption issues surrounding farm-to-market roads.
Tinio, in an interview with reporters, said there is a need to ascertain whether or not farm-to-market roads have fallen prey to corruption, as no less than Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. believes the road construction costs have been bloated.
Farm-to-market roads are DA projects in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) — the same agency dragged into the flood control mess.
READ: Solon wants agri road probe as ICI transparency still a concern
Makabayan and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima filed separate resolutions late October seeking an investigation into the allegedly risky investments made by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), which led to losses of over P8.8 billion.
READ: De Lima also wants House probe into GSIS ‘risky’ investments
Then, on Monday, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts, said that the delayed investigation into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project will start in the third week of November.
According to Ridon, the investigation will focus on whether or not the project was necessary, and check if the dolomite beach fits the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan, and the Supreme Court (SC) writ of continuing mandamus on the Manila Bay rehabilitation. /apl
READ: House probe into dolomite beach project slated this month
