MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently released P1.13 billion ($25.28 million) to the education department for the repair and rehabilitation of 5,055 classrooms, most of them damaged by major disasters in recent years. 

The amount is the first release from a P2.85-billion ($63.99 million) continuing appropriation under the Department of Education (DepEd) 2014 budget meant for the repair, rehabilitation, and renovation of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings, as well as the repair of water and sanitation facilities.

At least 5,055 classrooms in 10 regions will be repaired with the latest release from DBM. This is the breakdown per region: 

Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas will get the biggest cut of the pie, as almost half of the allocation or P595.01 million ($13.36 million) will be used to repair 2,485 classrooms in the region.

The next biggest allocation of P149.97 million ($3.37 million) is for the Bicol region, which was hit by Typhoon Glenda in 2014 – 901 classrooms will be repaired in the area.

“The government continues to work at restoring normalcy in areas affected by various crises in previous years. Rehabilitating schools damaged by these disasters is especially important, given that school buildings also double as temporary shelters when disaster strikes,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said in a statement Monday, May 25.

The remaining P1.72 billion ($38.62 million) from the P2.85-billion appropriation will be released later in 2015. This continuing appropriation is part of the P44.63-billion ($1 billion) built-in allocation for the Provision and Maintenance of Basic Education Facilities under DepEd’s 2014 budget. 

The special provision has an allocation of P52.88 billion under the 2015 budget. – Rappler.com 

*US$1 = P44.6