The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will soon start the construction of 27 disaster-resilient school building projects for Southern Leyte Province.
In a report, DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said the projects with a total allocation of P84.6 million under the 2017 Basic Educational Facilities Fund are now up for bidding.
Of the 27 buildings, four (4) will rise in Hinundayan town; three each in Sogod, St. Bernard, Bontoc, and Padre Burgos; two (2) each in Limasawa, Silago, and San Francisco; and one (1) each in Liloan, Pintuyan, Malitbog, Macrohon, and Tomas Oppus towns.
The school buildings which will be implemented in 13 towns of the province will have an average of two (2) classrooms, adopting design standards capable to withstand strong winds and earthquakes.
“For the past years, the country has experienced series of strong typhoons and lately ground tremors, specifically areas here in Eastern Visayas, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) and DPWH to upgrade its standard classroom design,” Junia said.
The structural component of the buildings such as footing, columns, and beams will also be expanded for safer and more conducive learning space for students.
Junia added that the District Office will be working double time for the prompt completion of the 27 school building projects that are only a fraction of the massive DepEd projects in the province amounting to P1.21 billion.