Classroom shortage problem near Tacloban relocation sites noted

TACLOBAN CITY, March 2 (PNA) -– Heads of government agencies in the region will meet on Friday to tackle classroom shortage issues near relocation sites as more families are scheduled for transfer to their new homes on summer.

National Economic Development and Development Authority (NEDA) Bonifacio Uy said top officials of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 

National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Tacloban city government will map out plans to curb the problem.

They will hold the meeting at the NEDA regional office. NEDA is the government agency tasked to monitor post-Yolanda recovery projects, taking over the functions of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery.

“Aside from water supply, another concern is the availability of sufficient learning facilities for school children in these relocation sites. This is the reason why families are reluctant to transfer to their new homes,” Uy said.

DepEd Regional Director Luisa Bautista Yu said there is an ongoing assessment of existing classrooms near relocation sites, taking into account the potential enrolment in the next academic year.

As of Feb. 16, 2016, there are already 862 families in permanent houses, 466 in transitional shelters, and 797 in bunkhouses. Thousands of families remain in coastal communities tagged as “danger zones.”

Priority for transfer by the government is those in transitional shelters and bunkhouses. The city government aims to transfer more than 14,000 to higher grounds through housing projects carried out by NHA and non-government organizations. (PNA)

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