DPWH delivers new classrooms to Iloilo schools

In line with the department’s drive to address classroom shortages, the Department of Public Works and Highways Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office, in coordination with the Department of Education, has undertaken several school building projects in its area of jurisdiction.

Among the completed facilities are new school buildings at Leon Central Elementary School in Leon and Sta. Barbara Central Elementary School in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

The Leon project, worth PHP 15.653 million, involved the construction of a two-story, four-classroom building with water supply, ventilation, comfort rooms, and a ramp for persons with disabilities.

The Sta. Barbara project, worth PHP 15.669 million, involved the construction of a two-story, four-classroom building with ventilation, comfort rooms, a ramp for persons with disabilities, and stairs that may serve as an emergency exit.

Each building can accommodate about 150 students.

District Engineer Mario G. Soriano said the new buildings were constructed to augment existing facilities and address the need for additional classrooms to help bridge gaps in education quality and provide students with equal opportunities to succeed.

“These schools are key learning institutions, accepting bigger number of enrollees every school year, which lead to lack of classrooms. Hence, providing these additional classrooms is necessary to help achieve academic excellence,” Soriano said.

“We will continue to build more buildings to various schools in the 2nd Congressional District of Iloilo, not only to address the need for additional classrooms, but to provide our students and teachers, especially in far-flungs areas with conducive and safer learning facilities,” Soriano added.

Assistant District Engineer Perla S. Laguardia said the additional school buildings are necessary to support optimal learning conditions and the holistic development of students and staff.

“These additional buildings will help ensure that our students can have conducive learning venue as they journey towards academic excellence. The well-designed school building can significantly improve student attendance, engagement, and academic performance, while also enhancing teacher satisfaction and retention,” Laguardia said.

High-quality school buildings contribute to better instruction, improved student achievement, and lower dropout rates.

DPWH said it continues to provide school buildings not only to address classroom shortages but also to boost the morale of students and teachers and improve the quality of education.