P98.5-B school building funds remain unused

MANILA, Philippines - Some P98.5 billion in school building funds for 2014 and this year remain unused, the House of Representatives appropriations committee learned yesterday.

Responding to questions from committee chairman Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said P44.63 billion and P53.88 billion in classroom construction funds for last year and 2015 have not been spent.

He said the delay in the use of the money was due to the difficulty in identifying and validating the sites where new classrooms would be built.

“But as we speak, we have already completed the listing for 2014 and 2015 and submitted it to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), which will do the procurement process. Hopefully, there is no bidding failure,” he said.

He added that his department is already preparing the list for 2016.

Ungab said the Department of Education (DepEd) and DPWH should expedite the procurement and construction process.

He said the May 9, 2016 elections are fast approaching “and soon, there will be an election-related construction ban.”

He said the two departments should complete their processes, obligate funds and actually start building classrooms before the construction ban.

“If that happens, they can continue erecting school buildings even during the election campaign,” he added.

Ungab pointed out that DepEd has a tedious process of listing sites for new school buildings.

“Their field personnel identify the sites based on a projected increase in enrollment. Then, the central office checks the sites one by one and validates the projections. Imagine checking all these locations throughout the country. It will really take time,” he said.

He said lawmakers and local government officials do not intervene in the identification of new school building sites.