COTABATO CITY—Five public schools in Maguindanao, which were formerly deprived of infra-projects due to peace and order situation, benefited from the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education’s (MBHTE) newly-built 15 classrooms.
The said project, amounting to Php17,455,833.27, was funded under the 2018 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF).
In South Upi, Maguindanao, recipient schools include Looy Integrated Technical High School which received 2 classrooms worth Php2,532,684; Looy Elementary School worth Php3,385,952 for 3 classrooms; Refra Elementary School worth Php3,385,952 for 3 classrooms, and Embing Mama Elementary School worth of Php3,609,541 for 3 classrooms.
Meanwhile, 4 more classrooms worth Php4,550,702.00 were turned over to Don A. Martinez Elementary School for 4 classrooms in Datu Odin Sinsuat.
In an interview with Chief Education Facilities Section Engr. Zubair Guiaman on Friday, Aug. 26, he said the ministry prioritizes these schools in providing and constructing school buildings considering their situation.
“We know that previously, the region was considered as a conflict-affected area [and] confronted with different situations, particularly the peace and order issues. Other communities are being deprived, too, when it comes to development, which we need to cope with,” Guiaman said.
“We should maximize the opportunities that we have to deliver responsive and appropriate projects for our Bangsamoro constituents.
Ibig sabihin, hindi lang double time kundi dapat triple time ang ginagawa natin para sa mga implementation ng programs at projects dahil maaaring bumaba ang bilang ng mga batang pumapasok sa paaralan,” he added.
Moreover, Guiaman also said that construction of school buildings and facilities in communities under the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) across the Bangsamoro region is ang underway.
“Meron tayong guidelines na sinusundan from Department of Education (DepEd)- Central Office, kabilang dito ang fifth class municipality; five years na hindi napatayuan ng mga [school] buildings, Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas at mga paaralan na may higit na pangangailangan,” he said.
The turning over of new school buildings is one of the initiatives of the region’s education ministry implemented under the 12-point priority agenda towards promoting the accessibility of quality education and developing schools as safe spaces for learning and development. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
