DBM releases P1.13-B budget for classroom rehabilitation

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday announced that it has released P1.13 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the repair and reconstruction of more than 5,000 classrooms nationwide, particularly those affected by recent calamities.

In a statement, DBM said the latest disbursement is part of the P 2.85-billion continuing appropriations under DepEd’s 2014 budget for the rehabilitation of school buildings and improvement of sanitation facilities.

“Rehabilitating schools damaged by these disasters is especially important, given that school buildings also double as temporary shelters when disaster strikes,” said Budget Secretary Butch Abad.

Among the regions, the Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas received the highest allocation of P595 million, equivalent to almost half of the total budget to be used in rebuilding 2,485 classrooms.

The second highest allocation went to the Bicol Region, which was ravaged by Typhoon Glenda last year, as P149.97 million would be used to repair 901 classrooms.

A bulk of the total budget would also go to Central Visayas, which was also affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The region is set to receive P138.65 million for the reconstruction of 489 classrooms.

Region IX, meanwhile, would get P74 million for the repair of 240 classrooms—most of which were affected by the Zamboanga siege in 2013.

With 87 schools that need repair, the National Capital Region (NCR) would receive P9.34 million of the pie.

Allocations for other regions are as follows: P7.022 million for 42 classrooms in Central Luzon, P80.013 million for 520 classrooms in Calabarzon, P21.012 million for 112 classrooms in Mimaropa, P44.69 million for 145 classrooms in Western Visayas, and P7.65 million for 34 classrooms in Caraga.

“Strengthening basic education is a major part of our inclusive growth campaign, whether it’s allocating P367 billion in this year’s budget or funding programs that will improve people’s access to quality education,” Abad said. “But these should also go hand-in-hand with creating more resilient and disaster-proof school facilities.”

A remaining P1.72 billion for the provision and maintenance of basic education facilities is yet to be released by DBM for the rest of 2015. AC