Borgonia to look into 'overpriced' school buildings

CEBU, Philippines – Department of Education Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia yesterday said he will look into the reported overpricing in the DepEd initiated construction of school buildings in Cebu City.

Borgonia said he supports the plan of Vice Mayor Augustus Young to bring the matter up with DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro.

He said he will also look into the program of works of the buildings in question and compare them to the program of works of those built by the city government using the Special Education Fund.

Borgonia said he will also look into reports that the prices of construction materials used in the DepEd - initiated projects were bloated.

It was Young who disclosed that DepEd spent almost P1 million for each classroom while those constructed by the city cost about P700,000 to P800,000.

Young said that only the buildings are overpriced, they are also substandard because some of them don’t have stairs, ceiling, upper floors, and remain unpainted. He said more school buildings could have been built if DepEd only spent its money wisely.

Young, who used to be education consultant of then Mayor Tomas Osmeña, encouraged top education officials in Manila to follow the way Cebu City prepares its program of works and estimates.

The vice mayor, who is also the chairman of the committee on education of the City Council, asked Luistro to immediately act on the matter to prevent more government funds from getting wasted.

Young raised the concern owing to reports that DepEd is scheduled to bid more school building projects in Cebu City worth P21 million. (THE FREEMAN)