Substantial school bldg projects completion eyed in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Leyte, May 26 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) is eyeing a substantial accomplishment in their school building construction in time for the opening of new academic year on June 13, 2016.

Out of 53 school building projects in different sites in the province, 13 have been completed and 37 are still ongoing as of this week.

Four projects have been suspended due to redesign of foundation up for review by the Bureau of Design. Before, it failed the soil bearing capacity test conducted.

These 53 projects of varying designs have 173 classrooms to absorb the first batch of senior high school (SHS) learners in 18 towns and Maasin City, the provincial capital.

District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said some projects have encountered delays due to cost adjustment to include the transhipment of materials to far flung project location, bidder filed motion for reconsideration, and failure to pass the sub soil test.

“With the regular coordination with the Department of Education and measures undertaken to address bottlenecks, we are optimistic to attain remarkable accomplishments in our school building projects during the opening of classes,” Junia said.

The DPWH-SLDEO expects to complete all classrooms before the fourth quarter of this year.

These projects are expected to boost the preparation of the province for next year’s full implementation of the SHS program under the kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (K to 12) program of the national government.

One of the recipients of school building projects is the Ichon Integrated Senior High School in Barangay Ichon, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, a home to more than 700 secondary students.

School Principal Myrna Caballero said the project will benefit at least 270 learners from 17 villages in Macrohon and Maasin City. Most of them are SHS learners.

“With this structure, we are assured that all SHS enrolees will have their classes in an environment conducive to learning,” Caballero said.

The campus has 205 slots for SHS program -67 for General Academic Strand; 72 for Accountancy, Business and Management; and 66 for Home Economics.

The Ichon Integrated Senior High School is just one of the 56 public schools in the province that will offer the SHS program this coming academic year.

Data from the DepEd shows that Maasin City and Southern Leyte towns need at least 242 classrooms this year for the projected 8,655 SHS enrolees. (PNA)

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