P1 billion allocated for 160 Iloilo classrooms

By Mariela Angella Oladive

To combat classroom shortages, the government has set aside P1,041,120,000 via the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the construction of 160 classrooms throughout Iloilo, as reported by DepEd Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. at a press briefing.

“We proposed classroom construction to alleviate the classroom shortage issue, and this year, we are grateful for the support of the legislative branch in approving the budget for 160 classrooms,” Servillion said.

The recipients of these new classrooms are already selected, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is finalizing the construction plans.

The urgent need for over 400 classrooms in Iloilo is expected to be partially addressed by the allocated budget, covering roughly 40 percent of the requirement.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has referred to the classroom shortage as a “national emergency” and is committed to deploying all resources to rectify the situation by the end of his term in 2025.

In the interim, Servillon indicated openness to temporary solutions, such as tents, to promptly meet student needs while long-term structures are built.

“The timeline for concrete structures can be challenging, so we’re open to alternatives like tents to swiftly meet our students’ needs. Meanwhile, we continue working on permanent solutions,” he underscored.

This initiative falls under the Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) program, targeting significant educational sector improvements.

The timeline for the construction starts is contingent on the DPWH, with DepEd coordinating closely.

“We will have a convergence meeting with DPWH to ensure that the construction of classrooms is prioritized and completed efficiently,” Servillion assured.