BICOL — The Department of Public Works and Highways in Bicol (DPWH-5) is currently undertaking significant repairs and construction of over 300 classrooms across the region to address the extensive damage inflicted by recent typhoons. The initiative aims to restore and enhance educational infrastructure critically needed by the Filipino youth.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH-5 has directed its district engineering offices to ensure that these schoolbuilding projects are executed to the highest standards. Eduarte emphasized the agency’s commitment to collaborating with other government bodies to provide high-quality services that facilitate access to proper educational facilities.

The DPWH-Bicol spokesperson, Lucy Castañeda, in a phone interview, detailed that the projects are a response to damages caused by typhoons “Rolly”, “Quinta”, and “Ulysses”. Funding for these repairs and new constructions has been secured through the Department of Education’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) for 2023 and the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2024.

As of the end of August, progress on the repairs under the QRF stood at 26.75 percent, while the construction of new classrooms was 11.44 percent complete. Castañeda noted that the timelines for completion are contingent on the specifics of each contract, but all projects are expected to be expedited to ensure timely disbursement of funds within the fiscal year.

Castañeda also shared that among the provinces, Albay received the largest allocation with PHP1.19 billion, followed by Camarines Sur with PHP395.2 million, and Sorsogon with PHP101.8 million, underlining the targeted efforts to bolster educational infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas.