Gov’t must build 254 classrooms a day to reach target – Recto

MANILA, Philippines – To achieve the government’s goal of building more than 80,000 classrooms before the end of President Benigno Aquino III’s term next year, an average of 254 classrooms must be built every day, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said.

In a statement on Saturday, August 1, the senator noted that because of backlogs in the construction of classrooms since 2014, the government will have to speed up the construction of 84,728 new classrooms before Aquino bows out on June 30, 2016.

“Ito na siguro ang regalo o goodbye gift ng mga ahensya sa Pangulo, na tapusin ang lahat ng silid-aralan na kanyang inutos gawin bago niya lisanin ang Malacañang,” Recto said.

(This could be a goodbye gift of the government agencies for the President, to finish the classrooms that he had ordered constructed before he leaves Malacañang.)

He added, “Let us work on this scenario: Before he goes to the inaugural of his successor, he will inaugurate the 84,728th classroom built in the last 11 months of his term.” 

The senator said that of the 41,728 new classrooms promised to be built in 2015, not one has been constructed as of July 1. Meanwhile, some 7,000 classrooms promised in 2014 remain unfinished, while around 43,000 new classrooms are being planned for 2016.

If the government wants to finish all 84,728 classrooms by June 30, Recto said an average of 254 classrooms must be built everyday.   

“Kung December 31, 2016 naman ang deadline of completion, 164 classrooms kada araw ang dapat maitayo – still a very tall order,” Recto said.

(If the deadline of completion is set on December 31, 2016, 164 classrooms must be built every day – still a very tall order.)

The senator also pointed out that the figure excludes the thousands of classrooms and technical-vocational workshops that need to be renovated or constructed.

To achieve this goal, Recto urged the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways to agree on a battle plan to speed up the implementation of the construction projects. – Rappler.com