The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently presented 66,813 classrooms to President Benigno S. Aquino III to address the 2010 backlog.
“This is a collaborative work of private organizations and public institutions, showing commitment to quality education for Filipino learners,” Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said at the ceremonial turnover of classrooms at Carmona National High School (CNHS), one of beneficiaries of additional classrooms.
He emphasized significant role of the private sector and local government units (LGUs) in delivering the kind of education that every Filipino child deserved. The education chief expressed his gratitude to the “partners in education” from the private sector, LGUs, and DPWH in fulfilling its promise to the Filipino learners.
“Before, this is just a dream—a seemingly impossible dream—but with the help of our friends from different sectors, both public and private, we are able to carry on our commitment to address 2010 backlog in classroom,” he added.
The said classrooms which ranges from one-story structures to multi-floor buildings, were constructed using national and local government funds and donations from the private sector.
More than 35,000 classrooms were funded by the national budget; 13,189 classrooms built using LGU funds; 14,886 from local donations; 1,215 from foreign donations; and 2,242 from PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) I. He also thanked President Benigno S. Aquino III for his continuous and unwavering support to the education sector.
“Through the support and trust of our President Aquino, we are able to accomplish this.” Continuing commitment to basic education “The Department of Education will continue to provide basic inputs to address incremental enrolment, regular wear and tear, and senior high school (SHS) requirements,” Luistro said. He added that DepEd shall construct more classrooms in 2014 to prepare for the full implementation of SHS (grades 11 and 12) in 2016.