The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol allocated a total of P1.5-billion to fund a massive rehabilitation project for typhoon-damaged classrooms in public schools across the region, ensuring they are ready for the upcoming adjusted academic year.
The initiative, which began in June, addresses the urgent need for functional educational facilities in the region, according to DPWH-Bicol Director Virgilio Eduardo Eduarte.
In a recent “Kapihan Sa Bagong Pilipinas” session with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA5), Eduarte detailed the allocation of P152-million, specifically for the immediate repair of 92 classrooms in Albay. Camarines Sur, meanwhile, was provided P29-million to pursue similar projects.
Eduarte highlighted that the broader plan includes the construction and rehabilitation of a total of 300 school buildings across Bicol this June. This effort is part of a larger P1.5 billion budget dedicated to improving the region’s educational infrastructure.
The necessity for robust school buildings has become even more pressing, as these structures are no longer permitted to serve as evacuation centers during natural disasters.
To address this, 59 evacuation centers have already been built across Bicol, with budgets ranging from P32-million to P45-million per facility. By 2025, the region aims to have at least 63 emergency shelter facilities.
According to Department of Education (DEPED) Bicol Director Gilbert Sadsad, over 3,000 classrooms were completely destroyed by Supertyphoon ‘Rolly’ in 2020. The majority of these are in Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes, awaiting full rehabilitation.
President Marcos has shown strong support for Bicol’s infrastructure development, allocating a total of P228-billion to the region’s DPWH since taking office, according to Eduarte. This includes a progressive budget increase from P71-billion in 2022, P74-billion in 2023, to P83-billion this year.