Capitol, RAFI allot P60M for 30 classroom buildings

CEBU, Philippines - The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) has offered P30 million to the Province of Cebu for the construction of six-classroom two-storey buildings in selected areas in the province.

Anthony Dignace, executive director for Education Development Unit of RAFI, made the formal offer during the recent meeting of the Provincial School Board chaired by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Dignace said that they have an existing program for classroom repair in elementary schools.

This time they made the offer to partner with the Provincial Government of Cebu and the Department of Education for the construction of classrooms for high schools.

The Provincial Government has been constructing two-classroom school buildings.

But Garcia said the province is interested in RAFI’s proposal in order to have more classrooms to address the problem of DepEd.

When Garcia assumed office in 2004, DepEd reported a lack of around 4,000 classrooms.

Provincial schools division superintendent Dr. Arden Monisit said that as of now, only 1,156 more classrooms needed.

Garcia proposed that with the P30 million of RAFI, the Province of Cebu will give another P30 million as counterpart, targeting 30 school buildings.

Garcia said that aside from the Cebu Division, other city divisions shall be included in the program. Garcia is set to meet other division heads to assess their need for classrooms in their respective areas.

The PSB has just approved the total annual budget of P201 million for school year 2012-2013.

The appropriations include the budget for the distribution of school supplies and computers, construction of 200 more classrooms, and among others.

With more than a P20 million increase in the budget compared to last year, the PSB is expecting to address problems from the previous school year and help more students with their upcoming projects and programs.—(FREEMAN)