DBM allots P4.5B for classroom rehab, facilities construction

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P4.5 billion to pay for the rehabilitation of classrooms and the construction of sanitation facilities in elementary and secondary public schools nationwide.

The funds shall be taken from the Department of Education's allocation for basic education facilities under the 2013 General Appropriations Act.

"As we start the academic year this month, we are also moving closer to our goal of closing all educational resource gaps boosting our public education system in the process," said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

Of the total, P3.4 billion will be used to construct sanitation facilities and P1.1 billion will be used for classroom maintenance.

The government has allocated P14.11 billion in total for the construction and completion of public schools in areas experiencing acute classroom shortage.

The DepEd will submit to the Department of Public Works and Highways a detailed list of priority areas for new classrooms, and the two departments will submit a special budget request to the DBM for the special allotment release order/notice of cash allocation. — BM, GMA News