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.