Iloilo needs P360M for classrooms

ILOILO CITY—The city government will borrow at least P360 million to address the shortage of classrooms in next year’s implementation of senior high school under the K-12 program.

In a resolution, the city council authorized Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to negotiate a loan with the Land Bank of the Philippines to build 160 classrooms in eight four-story buildings, with 20 classrooms per building.

At least 240 new classrooms are needed to accommodate an estimated 11,950 senior high school students for school year 2016-2017, according to Councilor Jason Gonzales, chair of the council’s committee on education.

The 80 other classrooms will be put up by the national government through the Department of Education.

The K-12 program is intended to enhance the country’s basic education program along international standards and provide better employment opportunities. It started in 2011 with the implementation of universal kindergarten schooling.

The introduction of the senior high school curriculum in 2016 and 2017 is the final phase of the K-12 implementation. But groups of teachers, parents and students have been calling for the suspension of the program’s implementation, citing lack of preparation and “genuine” consultation among the affected sectors.

The additional two years of schooling would financially burden students and their parents, according to Stop the K to 12 Alliance.

The loan of the city government will be used to construct a school building at Bo. Obrero National High School (NHS), Buntatala NHS, Mandurriao NHS, A. Bonifacio Elementary School, TCT-AR Foundation Integrated School and Fort San Pedro NHS.

Two school buildings will rise at Iloilo City NHS, Jaro NHS and Jalandoni Memorial NHS.