DepEd’s P3.1-billion school building program to pump-prime economy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has said it is about to begin its P3.1-billion school building construction program, which it said would create jobs and generate income, thus helping stimulate the Philippine economy. by embarking on a P3.1-billion school building construction program, thus creating jobs and generating income under its 2009 School Building Program. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the 2009 School Building Program provides for the construction of 1,908 new classrooms, 6,322 new toilets, 2,513 repairs of existing classrooms and 194 repairs of toilets. These are targeted for completion prior to school opening in June. "The Department of Education is doing its share in pump-priming the economy," Lapus said in a press statement. "This is an important undertaking of the government that will benefit many sectors. It will fill the gap in classroom shortage and at the same time help pump up the economy by employing many people in the building and construction business," he added. The budget has been allocated for the construction of school buildings in areas experiencing acute classroom shortage (Red and Black schools); construction and/or rehabilitation of school buildings and water and sanitation facilities. Also to be undertaken is the construction of school buildings in the southern Philippines under the Support to Philippine Education Reform (Sphere) projects. To ensure that these facilities can be used at the start of SY 2009-2010, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo instructed the DepEd to frontload the construction of the school buildings during the long summer vacation period. The fund will be directly released to the implementing units by the end of March 2009. Pump-priming projects require large expenditures by the government and is expected to benefit many in terms of labor, construction materials and allied products and services. In line with the innovation of the department to ensure the strengthening of school-based management, recipient school heads/principals of the projects will take the lead in the procurement and construction monitoring of school buildings. DepEd continues to support the efforts of schools and divisions towards self-improvement in accordance with the School-Based Management (SBM) Grant, which began in 2006. DepEd has collaborated with development partners to augment SBM grant resources. - GMANews.TV