The national government is set to construct 82 new classrooms in 12 elementary schools and high schools in nine municipalities of Antique province.
Deputy Speaker and Antique lone District Rep. Loren Legarda disclosed that P205.6 million was allocated under the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) for the construction of the new classrooms in the municipalities of Laua-an, Culasi, Hamtic, San Remigio, Sibalom, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier, Belison, and Patnongon for this year.
“Education plays a vital role in nation building and economic development. Thus, it is necessary for us to prioritize the construction of classrooms to provide our students better facilities and a more conducive learning environment,” Legarda, former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a statement.
“I will continue to strive to fulfill my commitment to improve the lives of Antiqueños and give priority to addressing the long-standing problem of classroom backlog in my province,” she added.
Legarda asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that the school classrooms that will be built "are environment-friendly, structurally sound and disaster resilient."
Legarda called on the two agencies to jointly require the integration of a green environment in the school community which include the installation of materials recovery facility and appropriate trash bin to help in the proper implementation of ecological solid waste management
Also being suggested is the construction of rainwater catchment to harvest water for future use and planting of vegetable gardens and trees in available spaces around.
“As we continue to embrace needed reforms to upgrade our country’s education system, let us be reminded that adaptation, resilience and sustainability must now be basic considerations in the implementation of public infrastructure projects,” said Legarda.
Legarda disclosed that of the 82 new classrooms to be built, the construction of 16 new classrooms in the municipalities of San Remigio, Anini-y and Bugasong is nearing completion after getting a P29.54 million from the BEFF.