Pagcor allots P2B for new classrooms

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is shelling out an additional P2 billion to fund the construction of about 2,000 classrooms in public schools all over the country.

This is part of the state-run gaming firm’s commitment to help alleviate the chronic backlog in classrooms and school buildings in the country and improve the quality of education for the Filipino youth.

The additional funding brings Pagcor’s total allocation for its school building project to P3 billion.

Pagcor initially provided a P1-billion funding for the construction of nearly 900 classrooms and 100 Gawad Kalinga (GK) Learning Centers when the project was launched in 2011.

Cristino Naguiat Jr., Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer, said the agency, in coordination with the Department of Education, will continue to oversee the monitoring of the project to ensure that construction is on time and follows the agreed quality standards it has set.

The selection of school beneficiaries will be determined by Pagcor based on DepEd’s data on classroom shortages. The state-owned gaming firm will also designate specific locations that will be prioritized for the construction of the school buildings.

The DepEd, on the other hand, will provide the architectural plans for the classroom structures subject to Pagcor’s final approval. Aside from monitoring the school buildings’ construction status, the DepEd will also provide the teachers, professionals and support staff needed for the operation of the Pagcor-funded classrooms.

When the Aquino administration assumed office in 2010, the shortage in classrooms at government-subsidized schools nationwide was recorded at 66,800.