P439M sought for new classrooms in Mandaue City

The Mandaue City Government has included P439 million in its funding proposal under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) program launched at Malacañang to address the city’s classroom shortage.

The proposed allocation will fund the construction of additional school buildings in several barangays identified as having urgent needs.

Mayor Thadeo Jovito Ouano attended the launch of the LGSF program at Malacañang on Monday, February 23.

During the event, a memorandum of agreement was signed for the Department of Education’s Classroom Acceleration Program with city mayors, Department of Education officials led by Secretary Sonny Angara, and representatives from civil society.

In an interview, Ouano said decentralizing the program would speed up classroom construction and project implementation.

Of the P439 million being sought, additional classrooms are proposed in Barangays Paknaan, Tabok, Umapad, Labogon, Cabancalan, and Tawason.

“Mao to atong gi proposed nila but wa sad ta kahibaw kung unsay mauna, but mao lang na atong wishlist ba,” the mayor said.

Under the proposal:

• Paknaan Elementary School will receive a four-storey building with 32 classrooms.
• Labogon Elementary School is proposed to have a four-storey building with 16 classrooms.
• Canduman National High School and Tabok National High School are each seeking four-storey buildings with 12 classrooms.
• Paknaan National High School is proposed to have a four-storey building with 60 classrooms.
• Cabancalan National High School and Don Calixto C. Yongco Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Tawason are each proposed to receive four-storey buildings with eight classrooms.

Ouano said the schools were identified based on recommendations from the DepEd Division of Mandaue as having the most urgent need for additional facilities.

He added that the national government will directly download funds to local government units to fast-track implementation. 

However, he clarified that the Department of Public Works and Highways will still handle construction of high-rise school buildings due to its technical expertise.

“Pero bisag unsa basta akoa ang importante mabutangan ta og additional classrooms sa City of Mandaue kay kinahanglan na kaayo nato,” Ouano said.

The mayor also said he spoke with Secretary Angara to follow up on the city’s request for a P700-million mid-rise building for Paknaan National High School, which he described as severely congested.

The LGSF is part of the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen national government support for local government units and ensure projects are immediately felt by communities.

Under the program, P57.872 billion has been allocated to LGUs nationwide for priority initiatives and projects.

Also present during the launch were Senator Bam Aquino, Senator Win Gatchalian, and Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, along with mayors from various cities and municipalities. (VCL)

Photo from Jonkie Ouano/ Facebook