DepEd to construct 34 school buildings in Mt. Province

Thursday 24th of May 2012

BONTOC, Mt. Province, May 24 (PIA) -- To help address the perennial problem of lack of classrooms, the Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated 34 school buildings to Mt. Province this year.

Education Supervisor I Primo Aligo of the Division Office here said the DepEd has allotted the province the amount of P23 million for the construction of 34 school buildings, of which 30 are one-classroom buildings and four are two-classroom buildings.

These classrooms will at least initially address classroom shortage in the province especially those newly created schools without permanent school buildings yet.

Last year, the Division Office reported that the province has 43 schools without permanent school buildings yet but they have been conducting regular classes with some using makeshift classrooms while others borrowed vacant buildings.

Aligo said the 30 one-classroom school buildings are distributed to nine of the 10 municipalities of the province. The municipality of Paracelis was allocated the highest number of 10 school buildings composed of three high school, six elementary schools and the completion of a primary school, followed by Bauko with six school buildings (four high schools and two elementary schools).

Three school buildings are allocated to each of the municipalities of Bontoc, Sagada and Tadian; two for Sadanga, and one each for Barlig, Besao, and Natonin.

The four two-classroom school buildings are allocated for Kaleo Elementary School and Lias National High School both of Barlig and Banawel National High School in Natonin. Also funded is the major repair and completion of the Paracelis Elementary School.

Aligo said these projects were all bid out and, except for three clusters where bidders were not able to submit the requirements, these will soon be awarded by the Schools Division Superintendent for implementation.

Aligo also informed that the DepEd has allotted the amount of P2,640,000 for the minor repair and improvement of classrooms of 10 schools, such as the Mt. Province General Comprehensive High School (MPGCHS - Bontoc); Kadaclan National High School in Barlig; Banao Elementary School and Bagnen National High School both of Bauko District I; Sinto Elementary School, Mt. Data National High School and Monamon Proper Elementary School all of Bauko District II; Sadanga Central and Sadanga National High Schools; and Catengan Elementary School in Besao.

Aside from the repair/improvement of classrooms and the construction of school buildings, the DepEd has also allocated the amount of P3.9 million under its Water and Sanitation project for the construction of a two-seater comfort rooms to seven elementary schools and eight secondary schools in the province, Aligo added. (JDP/JBS-PIA CAR,Mt. Province)