In Talisay City: Burnt school buildings unlikely to be replaced before classes open

CEBU, Philippines - New school buildings at the Candulawan Elementary School in Talisay City as replacement for those lost in a fire a month ago will unlikely be built soon.

The local school board would realign P20 million for the construction of the buildings but fears that it would take time for the Department of Education (Deped) Central Office in Manila to approve the realignment.

The fire, set off by electrical misuse, completely destroyed about 10 classrooms.

Denuyo said the P20-million annual budget for the division was originally set aside for the construction of five public elementary and high school buildings.

But because of the immediate need for new buildings by some schools such as those in Candulawan, a request for realignment was made.

From the P20 million, the division hopes to spend P10-11 million for the construction of medium rise classrooms.

Aside from Candulawan, a school in barangay Pooc will also get a portion of the budget to also build a new school building.

The division had been told that the old classrooms are always get flooded during the rainy season.

The Talisay City government — through its local school board — will provide a counterpart for the construction of new classrooms.

But the board can only release funds if it gets special exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in view of the ban on infrastructure projects, Denuyo said.

There is a possibility the construction of new school buildings could begin after the start of the school year, Denuyo said.

A contingency plan is on the wings in case no new classrooms are built before classes open. (FREEMAN)