DepEd: School rehab to cost a total of P12B

Typhoon survivor and district property custodian Norman Acala examines a book as he tries to save pieces from the school library at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Memorial Elementary School at typhoon-ravaged Tolosa town, Leyte province, on Dec. 9, 2013. Rehabilitating public schools destroyed by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” on Nov. 8 would cost at least P12 billion, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said. AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA

MANILA, Philippines—Rehabilitating public schools destroyed by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” on Nov. 8 would cost at least P12 billion, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

Based on the latest assessment, Luistro said about 5,900 classrooms had been destroyed, while another 14,500 needed major repair. New classrooms, he said, would cost about P6 billion, while repair work would entail a similar cost.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will shoulder the rehabilitation costs from its classroom construction budget for next year, without any supplemental budget. It would prioritize where to start rebuilding and repairing, Luistro said.

Classes in makeshift learning spaces have resumed in most of the areas devastated by the storm.

Luistro said the department would start public bidding in January and hope the construction of classrooms would be finished before the next school year.—Dona Z. Pazzibugan

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