Mandaue ‘wishes’ for P439 million for additional classrooms

CEBU, Philippines — Additional classrooms may soon arise in Mandaue City as its government lobbied for a P439 million funding wishlist under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) program launched at Malacañang, in hopes of addressing the shortage of educational facilities in the city.

Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano attended the launch of the LGSF program at Malacañang on February 23, which aims to strengthen the quality of education in Mandaue City through additional classroom projects.

During the event, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed for the Department of Education’s Classroom Acceleration Program with city mayors, Department of Education (DepEd) officials led by Secretary Sonny Angara, and representatives from civil society.

In an interview with the media, Ouano said the national government’s move to decentralize the program would make the implementation and construction of classrooms faster.

Of the proposed P439 million, additional classrooms are planned for Barangays Paknaan, Tabok, Umapad, and Labogon.

“Mao to atong gi proposed nila but wa sad ta kahibaw kung unsay mauna, but mao lang na atong wishlist ba,” the mayor said.

Under the proposal, Paknaan Elementary School is set to receive a four-storey building with 32 classrooms, while Labogon Elementary School is proposed to have a four-storey building with 16 classrooms.

Canduman National High School and Tabok National High School are each seeking four-storey buildings with 12 classrooms.

Paknaan National High School is proposed to have a four-storey building with 60 classrooms, while Cabancalan National High School is seeking a four-storey building with eight classrooms. Don Calixto C. Yongco Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Tawason is also included in the proposal for a four-storey building with eight classrooms.

Mayor Ouano said these schools were identified as having the most urgent need for additional classrooms based on the recommendations of the DepEd Division of Mandaue.

He added that the national government has decided to directly download the funds to local government units to ensure faster project implementation.

However, he clarified that for high-rise school buildings, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will still handle construction due to its technical expertise.

“Pero bisag unsa basta akoa ang importante mabutangan ta og additional classrooms sa City of Mandaue kay kinahanglan na kaayo nato,” Ouano said.

He also shared that he was able to speak with Secretary Angara to follow up on the city’s request for the construction of a P700-million mid-rise building for Paknaan National High School, which the mayor assessed to be ‘severely congested’.

The LGSF forms part of the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which aims to strengthen national government support for local governments to ensure that projects are felt immediately and equitably by communities.

Under the program, a total of P57.872 billion has been allocated to various LGUs nationwide for the implementation of priority initiatives and projects.

Also present during the launch were Senate Committee Chairperson for Basic Education and Science and Technology Bam Aquino, Senator Win Gatchalian, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, and mayors from various cities and municipalities across the country. — /IHM (FREEMAN)