By Iryll Sicnao
TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines — The provincial government has announced that P50 million is allocated to Kalinga under the government’s classroom building program, which seeks to fast-track the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of classrooms.
Gov. James Edduba endorsed nine schools to the Department of Education to be prioritized for the program based on several critical factors, including their location in remote and hard-to-reach communities, existing classroom shortages, structural deterioration of facilities, and the increasing number of learners.
These priority schools are located in the towns of Balbalan, Rizal, Pinukpuk, and Tinglayan, particularly the Guinaang Dao-angan Primary School, Cadao Elementary School, Laytok Primary School, Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial School (Poswoy Extension), Balay Elementary School, Bayowong Elementary School, Calbayan Elementary School, Aguimitan Primary School, and Utah Community School.
“These schools were identified as priority beneficiaries. Many of the schools serve upland and geographically isolated communities, where access to safe and adequate educational facilities remains a pressing concern,” the Kalinga provincial government said in a press release.
The provincial government proposes that each school be provided with a one-storey, two-classroom school building to address their classroom shortages and improve learning conditions.
President Ferdinand Marcos, in February, formalized a partnership between the DepEd and the provinces to address the country’s persistent shortage of learning spaces.
Under the partnership, the DepEd will set technical standards, provide classroom designs, and provide funding, while the local government units will spearhead procurement and construction.
Edduba assured the provincial government’s commitment to properly utilize the funding.
“Once approved, the [provincial government] will monitor and supervise its implementation to ensure quality construction of each, assuring that the people’s taxes won’t go to waste and that the classrooms will truly serve their purpose, and that is to uplift the education for all Kalinga,” he stated. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
