DPWH Eastern Visayas completes 1,156 new school buildings

PALO, Leyte, June 3 (PNA) -- At least 1,156 new school building have been completed and ready for use in the new academic year in Eastern Visayas, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported, citing accomplishments of the Basic Education Facilities Funds (BEFF).

DPWH Regional Director Edgar B. Tabacon admitted that school building construction has been very challenging as some sites failed to pass the subsurface soil exploration survey, leading to cost adjustments and search for alternative sites.

The newly-completed classrooms are funded through the Department of Education’s (DepEd) BEFF for 2014 and 2015, which aims to build 1,504 school buildings in the six provinces of the region. The two-year allocation has a combined budget of PHP6.11 billion.

About 348 buildings are now ongoing and 114 have suffered construction delays. Most of the new buildings are two-storey structures in support to the government’s disaster-resilient program.

“Some sites failed the subsurface soil exploration survey while some needs more funding for foundation due to varied soil strata. Although our goal is to rush the completion of classrooms, we have to make sure that these building are erected on stable soil,” Tabacon said.

The new school buildings design takes into consideration human dimensions, applicable building codes, green building adaptation, effect of climate change, calamity-resilience, withstanding strong typhoons and major earthquake, and compliance with the National Structural Code of the Philippines 2010.

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