Year after quake classrooms still up for rehab

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines –  It will be one year on October 15 after the magnitude-7.2 earthquake struck Bohol province, and the Department of Education is still working on rehabilitation and construction of 1,178 classrooms and school buildings.

Of this number, 828 classrooms destroyed by the quake need repair while 350 school buildings need replacement, based on the DepEd list signed by provincial schools division Superintendent Wilfreda Bongalos.

A total of 1,146 classrooms that needed repair but only 318 were completed, while 1,260 classrooms needed replacement with 910 completed, showed the DepEd list, and 967 more needed major repair validation and funding.

The national government's quick response fund for Bohol has allocated P200 million for replacement of classrooms, itemized as follows: more than P89.5 million for 121 classrooms in 32 locations of the first district; more than P76.3 million for 101 classrooms in 28 sites of the second district; and more than P34.1 million for 46 classrooms in 13 sites of the third district.

The Public-Private Partnership scheme had a total fund of P189,427,050 for replacement of school buildings: more than P43.7 milion for 48 classrooms in 33 sites of the first district; more than P97.9 million for 112 classrooms in 72 areas of the second district; and more than P47.78 million for 56 classrooms in 53 sites of the third district.

Under PAGCOR, a total of P86,546,615 were set aside for school buildings: more than P38.4 million for 41 classrooms in 13 locations of the first district; more than P19 million for 19 classrooms in 10 sites of the second district; and more than P28.9 million for 31 classrooms in 10 areas of the third district.

Finally, the BFF-DPWH funding for school buildings had a total of P347,527,115, broken down as follows: more than P28.5 million for 27 classrooms in 17 areas of the first district; more than 213.9 million for 205 classrooms in 118 sites of the second district; and more than P105 million for 103 classrooms in 50 areas of the third district.

There was no mention, however, on what areas in a municipality or barangay where the replacement and rehabilitation of school buildings will be undertaken.