More than 1,000 damaged classrooms now stand between thousands of students and safe learning spaces in Mindanao, prompting renewed calls for faster implementation of the government’s multibillion-peso school infrastructure program.
Sen. Bam Aquino on Monday inspected earthquake-hit schools in Mindanao and called for greater accountability over the slow rollout of the national government’s P67-billion classroom construction program following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck near Maasim, Sarangani, on June 8.
Aquino, who recently returned as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said the disaster had further worsened the country’s long-standing classroom shortage.
The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier reported that more than 1,000 classrooms across 19 provinces sustained varying degrees of damage from the earthquake, ranging from minor cracks to total destruction.
The damage adds to the country’s existing shortage of around 166,000 classrooms.
During his visit, Aquino said the Senate would conduct hearings to determine the status of the classroom program funded under the national budget.
“We’re gonna have a hearing to find out the progress of these classrooms. Mayroon na kaagad tayong minus 1,000 classrooms nung isang araw because of the earthquake.” he said.
“So naghahabol tayo, we want to put up these classrooms. Yung pondo, na pondohan ng Kongreso at ng Senado, we want to find out where this is at kung kamusta na to. And if we can really start building 26,000 classrooms this year,” Aquino added.
The national government earlier approved a record P1.34-trillion budget for education, including a P67-billion allocation for the construction of about 25,000 new classrooms.
However, Aquino said reports reaching his office indicate that implementation has been slow despite the available funding.
“Yung isa sa gusto ho namin tingnan, is to look into the classroom building progress in our country. Because I’ve been going around, number of Mayors have also talked to me. Mabagal yung deployment nung 67 billion peso na inallocate namin para sa classroom,” he said.
Aquino warned that delays could worsen as the rainy season progresses, making construction more difficult.
“Magsisimula na yung rainy season. Kapag umuulan, it gets harder to build. So, we are hoping this can be fast track and before the end of the year,” he added.
According to reports from the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat were among the provinces most heavily affected by the earthquake, requiring at least P245.8 million for debris clearing and urgent repairs.
Aquino said Congress’ responsibility extends beyond approving budgets and includes ensuring that public funds are properly used and released on time.
“Ito yung isa po sa mga priorities natin, to check on that budget, to make sure na nagagamit ito ng tama, to make sure na mabilis ang deployment niya. Kasi currently ang report sa amin ay mabagal ang deployment,” he said.
He also stressed the need for government to act swiftly in restoring classrooms and addressing the needs of affected learners.
“You can imagine the trauma na pagdadaanan ng mga bata. So, ang daming kailangan gawin, Government needs to come in, act fast. Yung pagbibigay ng pondo para ma-repair yung mga classroom or para gumawa ng mga bagong classroom, kailangan mabilis,” Aquino said.
The senator also called for a greater focus on governance nd reforms amid ongoing political tensions.
“Bumalik tayo sa isang senado na nagtatrabaho, na gumagawa ng mga reporma para sa Pilipino, at hindi na yung puro conflict, puro away, puro drama. Bumalik tayo sa pagtulong sa taong bayan,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Bam Aquino / Facebook
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