Davide: Rush school rehab, repairs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III is calling on the Department of Education to fast-track the repair and reconstruction of school buildings.

As classes in public schools start today, several students still have to stay in tents as makeshift classrooms, around seven months after super typhoon Yolanda destroyed school buildings and eight months after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu and Bohol.

“I think they (DepEd) have funds for that already. DepEd should rush this (the repair),” Davide said.He said the province is also helping for the repair, extending P500,000 financial assistance to each of the affected towns for the schools.

“Unya ang municipality na ang mopili (chooses) which school ang kinahanglan og repair gyod.”

Secretary Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman of the Department of  Social Welfare and Development had announced that repair of classrooms and school buildings are being prioritized, through the effort of the Department of Education, private organizations, and United Nations agencies like the United Nations Children’s Fund.

In the meantime, tents, which serve as temporary classrooms, would be modified to lessen the discomfort of the students.

DepEd earlier said it is aiming to finish the repairs and construction of school buildings in July or August.

Partner organizations like the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. are likewise targeting to finish the classrooms they are building as soon as possible so students can already start using them. (FREEMAN)