Recognizing the need to provide Filipino students spaces that are more conducive to learning, the Department of Education (DepEd) unveiled new designs for the medium-rise school building.
During the Launching of the Medium-Rise School Building Designs Exhibit at the DepEd Central Office, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized the necessity of creating more conducive learning spaces.
“I would like to thank our friends and partners who have conceptualized solutions and designs of school buildings, which are appropriate to the call of the times, appropriate for the needs for more space, and greater safety for our learners,” Briones said.
She also recognized that since there is not much land or property to build more schools in highly urbanized areas, mid-rise buildings are the “best creative solution” that DepEd can adapt to save on space.
“We can be late for many things, but we cannot be late for the future and this effort, responding to the need for space, is a response to the call of the future for space in education, for places for our children to learn and to play,” Briones said.
The medium-high rise school building design will be constructed in highly urbanized areas with a dense population but limited land areas for development.
DepEd proposed varied designs ranging from at least five to 12 floors or even higher, while the number of floors will depend on the classroom needs of the school, the available building space, the type of soil, and the projected enrollment population for the next 15 to 25 years.
Meanwhile, Education Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua said that the new designs will respond to the classroom shortage, especially in cities. “It is brought about by growing population of urban dwellers and because of the limited land area of school sites,” he explained.
Pascua said that the “only solution we can do is to go up, instead of expanding sideways, which we cannot because of the limitations of land or school sites, the only thing possible now is to go up and build the medium to high rise school building.”
DepEd stressed that the school buildings will be made with the latest construction technologies consistent with the National Building Code of the Philippines. The DepEd’s Minimum Performance and Standard Specifications (MPSS) were also incorporated into the plans to optimize the use of the new school building designs.
DepEd also highlighted its accomplishments in other flagship projects, such as the Last Mile Schools program and the Gabaldon Heritage School conservation program during the exhibit.
Aside from the members of the DepEd Executive Committee, the meeting was attended by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) represented by Acting Secretary Roger Mercado and Assistant Secretary Antonio Molano.
“Rest assured that the DPWH will continuously support the DepEd in whatever capacity to facilitate the construction of these high-rise school buildings,” Mercado said.
According to the DPWH, the construction of these proposed high-rise buildings may be facilitated through the LGUs under the Mandanas law or a Memorandum of Agreement with DepEd.