Saturday, April 9, 2016

New schools to rise near Tacloban north relocation sites

TACLOBAN CITY, April 8 (PNA) –- The Department of Education is committed to build at least 40 classrooms for children of families in relocation sites in time for the opening of a new school year on June 6, 2016.

Kick-off of school building projects near the northern relocation have been pushed to summer since many families are reluctant to move to their new homes.

“Disregarding this issue, the DepEd central office conducted an ocular inspection on site and allocated funds to establish more schools in the northern part of the city,” said DepEd regional information officer Jasmin Calzeta.

At least eight new school buildings with 40 classrooms will rise in different sites in the north based on initial DepEd plans.

“We already asked assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the city government to count the actual number of learners in transitional and permanent houses,” Calzeta said.

Priorities are new campuses near Ridge View 1 and 2 subdivisions and GMA Kapuso Village. Both sites have more than a thousand relocated families.

The regional office has yet to receive information on specific budget allocation for new classrooms in resettlement areas.

This summer, the government is prioritizing the transfer of 800 families from three bunkhouses.

In a long term, the city government aims to transfer more than 14,000 to higher grounds through housing projects funded by the by NHA and non-government organizations.

At least 5,357 houses have been substantially completed, according to NHA. Of the number, 3,423 units are 90 to 99 percent complete, and 1,933 houses are ready for occupancy as of end of March 2016.

About 4,538 units are now under construction, raising optimism that the 14,433 housing units in the city’s northern relocation sites will be completed by end of 2016.

The NHA has been developing 16 subdivisions for Yolanda-hit families in coastal areas tagged as danger zones. Four sites are now fully developed – Ridge View Park 1 and 2 in Cabalawan village,
Villa Sofia in Tagpuro village, and Villa Diana in New Kawayan village. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

No comments:

Post a Comment