P419 billion needed to address 167,000 classroom shortage -Pia Cayetano

The Department of Education (DepEd) needs a budget of P419 billion to address the shortage of around 167,000 classrooms, Senator Pia Cayetano said Monday.

Citing the 2019 National School Building Inventory, Cayetano said P419.7 billion was needed to address the shortage of a total of 167,901 classrooms nationwide.

“[T]he funding requirement to complete all construction of buildings and repair… for the 167,901 classroom shortage, that would require P419 billion,” Cayetano said during the Senate plenary session on the DepEd’s budget.

Meanwhile, Cayetano said 37,796 classrooms were damaged due to various disasters from 2016 to 2022. Of these, 5,511 were damaged in 2022.

According to the senator, DepEd needs P45.7 billion for the repair.

“Even if we spend for 2022, may nasira nung 2020, may nasira nung 2019, and all the way back to 2016. So the grand total is 37,795 classrooms need to be repaired,” Cayetano said.

However, Senator Win Gatchalian said DepEd needs P206 billion to repair 413,000 classrooms that were damaged both in earthquakes and typhoons.

The senators agreed to reconcile their figures.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she will move for the realignment of the DepEd’s P150 million confidential funds at the appropriate time.

“What to do with the DepEd confidential fund remains a question. And so at the proper time, because it was expressed by the DepEd leadership na iiwan nila sa Kongreso ‘yung halaga ng fund na ito, that I hope my colleagues in the Senate will share the view that there are no extraordinarily compelling reasons to provide a confidential fund to the Education agency,” she said.

“So at the proper time, I will make the proper time I will make the proper proposed motion, proposed amendment on the realignment,” she added.

The DepEd said it would defer to Congress on the matter.

“The Vice President and Secretary of Education had also previously stated that we will defer to the decision of the majority of Congress on the matter,” Education spokesperson Michael Poa had said.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte was present at that hearing. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

P419 billion needed to address 167,000 classroom shortage -Pia Cayetano
Source: Filipino Viral News PH