By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Iloilo City government has earmarked P159.7 million for the construction of new school buildings in 2024.
The financial allocation is from the special education fund (SEF) and aims to address the growing demand for additional classrooms within the Iloilo City Schools Division.
The SEF will be used for the construction of a 2-story 6-classroom building at E. Juntado Elementary School in Molo worth P23.9 million.
Around PHP100.9 million will be allocated to a 2-story, 30-classroom building at TCT-AR Foundation Integrated School in Lanit, Jaro.
The allocation also includes PHP34.9 million for the construction of a 3-story 9-classroom building at Tabucan Elementary School in Mandurriao.
This commitment to educational infrastructure follows the city government’s funding of 20 school projects worth PHP217.9 million in the previous year.
Notable among these were the PHP44.9 million 4-story, 16-classroom building (Phase 1) for La Paz National High School; PHP40.9 million 3-story, 12-classroom building for Nabitasan Elementary School (Proposed Integrated School) in La Paz; and a PHP25 million 2-story, 8-classroom building at Nabitasan Elementary School.
Mayor Jerry Treñas emphasized the importance of providing a conducive learning environment.
“We believe that having a conducive learning environment equipped with necessary facilities is a factor that could help our learners to perform well in their studies.”
According to data from the Iloilo City Schools Division, there is a pressing need for 88 additional classrooms for elementary schools, 321 for secondary education, and 45 for integrated schools.
