At least P1.08 trillion is needed in order to address the shortage of classrooms nationwide in the next three years, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
Based on the data released by DepEd, the classroom requirements for the year 2020 is 242,603 classrooms.
This figure, DepEd said, accounts for 110,954 classroom shortages; 85,524 replacements of classrooms scheduled for condemnation/demolition; and 46,125 classrooms for the Last Mile Schools.
Given this, DepEd proposed to lawmakers to allocate P333 billion for 2021; P374 billion for 2022; and P374 billion for 2023 to address the classroom shortage in the next three years.
Meanwhile, DepEd also set standards and specifications for school buildings. This is through the issuance of the Re-Establishment of Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications (MPSS) using the Alternative Construction Materials for School Buildings.
As per Department Order No. 006 s. 2021, the MPSS aims to drive the construction of well-designed buildings that considers anthropometrics, ergonomics, thermal comfort, illumination, ventilation, acoustics, and color; and that are compliant with the law.
DepEd said that it wants to ensure that school buildings for the succeeding years could withstand wind velocity up to 340 kilometers per hour and could resist 0.4 up to 8.0 magnitude of an earthquake.
Meanwhile, DepEd noted that the designers must also consider the Sanitary and Plumbing Standards - including the provisions of toilets and sanitary facilities under the Plumbing Code and the Sanitary Code of the Philippines.
DepEd’s Education Facilities Division (EFD), together with the Regional and Division Office, will be in-charge of the monitoring of the construction and the evaluation of the building using the alternative construction materials approved by the Central Office.