More classrooms in Cordillera under private-public partnership

BAGUIO CITY – More classrooms will be built in Cordillera region under the Public Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) Phase II project.

At least 635 classrooms in 395 school sites were initially identified across the region to address the need for additional classrooms, said a report at the Regional Development Council.

The PSIP seeks to supplement the current initiatives and program of the Department of Education on classroom construction nationwide equipped with toilets and furniture. It is intended to expand the supply of classrooms the soonest through a build-lease-and transfer (BLT) scheme in all public school system.

Recipients of PSIP Phase I project were Regions I, 3 and 4-A, and the DepEd intends to replicate the project in other regions to include the CAR for the second phase.

The Regional Social Development Sectoral Committee (RSDC) of the Cordillera RDS has already adopted and endorsed the PSIP Phase II school building program.

The National Economic Development Authority – CAR said the project will be bidded out in several regional packages to attract more bidders with one contract per region. The winning bidder is required to construct and turnover the completed classrooms in one year.

This after finding out a major setback in the region with the shortage and poor quality of classrooms and is seen to worsen if not addressed with the implementation of the ‘K to 12’ and the ‘Education for All’ programs with the expected significant hike in enrollment.

The project seeks to address 49 percent of the projected need for classroom for 2013-2014 in the region.

The RDC also recommended DepEd to look into the strict implementation of the standards for school buildings and site development guided by the Educational Facilities Manual.

Latest findings of the Cordillera Regional Project Monitoring Committee reveal that some schools were built in areas susceptible to erosion and landslide, and subsidence areas with no mitigating measures put in place.

The standard design should consider terrain, access, topography, climate and nuances of the identified sites.

The RSDC also moved for adoption of another resolution requesting national government to provide funds for the remaining gaps for more classrooms totaling to 616 in both elementary and secondary level for early consideration and inclusion.