DepEd gets P2-B to rebuild schools in Yolanda-hit areas

PAGCOR donated P2 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the reconstruction of public schools in the Visayas and some parts of Region 4 which were heavily damaged by super typhoon Yolanda. Present during the MOA signing and ceremonial turn-over of PAGCOR’s financial aid to DepEd are (from left) DepEd USEC Francisco Varela, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr., DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, Secretary Panfilo Lacson (Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery), and PAGCOR President and COO Jorge Sarmiento.

MANILA, Philippines—The government on Friday received what its officials described as the biggest “bonanza”  amounting to P2 billion from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) for the construction of new classrooms in areas hit by Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) last month.

Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Cristino Naguiat and Education Secretary Armin Luistro signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for Pagcor’s P2-billion commitment to the Department of Education.

Newly-appointed presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery, Secretary Panfilo Lacson, witnessed the signing held at Pagcor’s office in Manila.

“Ito po iyong pinakamalaking bonanza na nakuha ng DepEd na talagang tumutugon sa Yolanda (This is the biggest bonanza that DepEd has received for Yolanda),” Luistro said at a joint press conference.

The P2 billion allocation, he said, would be used solely for the construction of new classrooms in public schools in Yolanda-hit areas.

To build 4,500 classrooms, Luistro said the government would need roughly P4 billion.

“So (this) is around half already of the needed budget for the replacement of those other classrooms,” the education chief said.

“In the Cabinet where Senator Ping sits, we are discussing how the other repairs  and where we will fund the remaining classrooms that need to be replaced.”

Luistro hopes that by January next year, they could start the bidding and procurement of materials for the new classrooms.

“DepEd’s target is to fast-track it so before the opening of classes in June, at least the  one-story buildings that need to be replaced are already in place for the coming school year,” he said.

Lacson, who also joined the presscon, agreed with Luistro that the P2 billion allocation from Pagcor was the biggest “bonanza” so far in terms of school buildings.

“Sabi nga ni Bro. Armin, ito na iyong pinakamalaki at halos kalahati ng problema ang nabawas sa kanya (Like what Bro. Armin said, this is the biggest and almost half of his problem has been reduced ,” Lacson said.

Naguiat said it has been Pagcor’s advocacy to help the DepEd.

In fact, he said, this P2 billion new fund brought the total allocation of Pagcor for DepEd to P5 billion since the Aquino government assumed office in 2010.

Pagcor, in a separate statement, said the P2 billion allocation will be used to construct approximately 2,000 classrooms in the Visayas and some parts of Region 4, including Palawan and Romblon, which reportedly recorded the most number of heavily damaged schools.

“By doing our share in the government’s rehabilitation efforts, we can give hope and provide assistance to the students who are now studding in makeshift classrooms. These are the same students who are still dealing with their loss yet they are trying to move on with their lives,” Naguiat said.

“For our country to really rise from this tragedy, we must be all willing to help the survivors, especially the youth to live normal lives again,” he added.

Aside from the P2 billion fund for new classrooms, Naguiat said Pagcor  also committed another P6 million to the Department of Public Works and Highways which will be used to paint the bunk houses of typhoon victims.