← BACK

JV Ejercito to DepEd: Focus on classroom repairs over new construction to address shortage

November 09, 2023

Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito urged the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday to prioritize repairing classrooms as it is a "low-hanging fruit" solution to the shortage and much faster than constructing new ones.

During the plenary debate for the proposed 2024 budget of the DepEd on Thursday, Nov. 9, Ejercito emphasized that repairing existing classrooms is a more practical approach than building new ones, especially given the frequent occurrence of calamities and storms in the country each year.

“Kaya po nag-aalala po ako what is the reason for the increase in the budget of construction of new classrooms and the decrease in the budget of repairs and rehabilitation because this is a low-hanging fruit,” Ejercito said.

“We’re in the Pacific Ring of Fire, always facing around 20 typhoons and prone to calamities,” he added.

Based on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the budget for building new classrooms increased from P19.6 billion to P24.6 billion.

The lawmaker from San Juan, however, noted that the budget for the repairs and rehabilitation of classrooms was decreased from P6.5 billion to P1.5 billion.

“Nakikita ko mga nakatiwangwang lang ang classrooms because of lack of funding for repairs,” the lawmaker said.

“I was a Mayor once in my lifetime, and I know for a fact that it is much easier, faster to rehabilitate and repair classrooms that can be used right away than to construct new classrooms,” he added.

According to DepEd, the country needs 159,000 classrooms for the upcoming school year. Out of this total, some 440 classrooms got damaged due to storms or other disasters.

This year's classroom shortage is much worse than last year, which was only 91,000 classrooms short, the education agency noted.

“We’re hoping that the budget for repairs and rehabilitation [of classrooms] would be restored. Students will benefit from them as soon as possible.”

Under the Fiscal Year 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), DepEd allocated P19.6 billion for the construction of new school buildings.


#

Stay Ahead with JV Ejercito: Get the Latest Updates,
Insights, and News


    ×

    Stay in touch

    Subscribe with JV Ejercito’s Newsletter: Get the Latest Updates, Insights, and News

      Full Name

      Email

      Mobile Number (Optional)