Southern Leyte gets new typhoon-proof school buildings

MAASIN CITY, Oct. 16  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte field office will kick off the construction of PHP84.55-million disaster-resilient school buildings under the 2017 Basic Educational Facilities Fund.

In a statement released Monday, DPWH Southern Leyte district engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said bidding for the 24 buildings would be on October 18 to 20. Construction in 13 towns of the province would proceed within the year.

Junia said the new school buildings would have an average of two classrooms each with upgraded designs, enough to withstand strong winds and destructive earthquakes.

“For the past years, the country has experienced series of strong typhoons and lately series of ground tremors, specifically areas here in Eastern Visayas, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) and DPWH to upgrade its standard classroom design,” Junia said.

The structural component of the buildings such as footing, columns, and beams will be expanded for safer and more conducive learning space for students.

Of the 27 buildings, four will rise in Hinundayan town; three each in Sogod, St. Bernard, Bontoc, and Padre Burgos; two each in Limasawa, Silago, and San Francisco; and one each in Liloan, Pintuyan, Malitbog, Macrohon, and Tomas Oppus towns.

Junia added that these new school buildings are only part of its massive DepEd projects under 2017 fund, that is why the district is working double time for its prompt implementation.

Bidding was not pushed through early this year, according to Junia since it takes time to complete the soil test, which serves as the basis in coming up with final design of a school building project.

In a separate statement, the education department said delays were encountered early on as DepEd and DPWH thoroughly conducted its joint validation of school sites from January to April of this year.

“The unavailability of funds for soil testing and the need to review existing classroom designs were also issues at the onset, as these factors necessitated the computation of new rates and costing for construction,” the DepEd stated.

Overall, the school building projects for Southern Leyte will cost PHP1.21 billion designed to curb classroom shortage in public elementary and high schools in the province.

According to DepEd Southern Leyte division listings, there are 61 sites for one-story school buildings and 55 for multi-storey buildings, however, some are still under validation for final listing and release of fund. (SQM/PNA)