Cebu Province is moving to protect the next school year from disruption by building hundreds of temporary learning spaces in areas still recovering from last year’s calamities.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro approved the construction of 269 Temporary Learning Shelters (TLS) across 34 municipalities, providing displaced students with safe classrooms while damaged school buildings undergo repair or reconstruction.
Many schools in northern and upland Cebu were partially damaged or declared unsafe, forcing students into cramped classrooms, shifting schedules, or makeshift learning areas.
The TLS initiative is designed as an urgent stopgap to ensure education continues despite ongoing infrastructure rehabilitation.
Each shelter will house a single classroom equipped to provide a secure and functional learning environment for students who would otherwise lack proper space.
The Provincial School Board has allocated approximately P307 million for the project, following Baricuatro’s directive to prioritize education recovery.
Christopher Baricuatro, Executive Assistant and focal person of the board, said the allocation underscores the province’s commitment to restoring stability in affected communities.
At an estimated P1.1 million per unit, construction of each shelter is expected to take about one month.
Bidding for the project is scheduled to begin in March, with completion targeted between May and June — in time for the next school opening.
The temporary structures are meant to bridge the gap while permanent buildings are assessed, repaired, or reconstructed by national and local agencies.
Component cities, however, are not included, as they fall under separate school divisions with independent funding, requiring city governments to pursue their own temporary solutions. (SBA)
