Construct Buildings To Withstand Calamities

In a recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing about classrooms con-structed by DPWH out of DepEd funds, it unearthed a startling overpricing. Sen. Franklin Drilon found out straight from the horses’ mouth that it cost P600,000 to build one classroom. This means that just building 4,644 new classrooms, it entailed a stagerring P2.786 billion.

The need to decongest and reduce serious backlog of facilities available for school kids is part of DepEd’s approach to promote child friendly schools. Current average number of children per classroom is 47, some 12 pupils more than the standard 35. In some cases this may go up to 70 kids stuff in a classroom with no electrcity and running water.

For several decades, one is confronted with shody workmanship done by DPWH or DPWH supervised private contractors in the construction/repair of school buildings. A few years after completion, they suffer signs of obsolence like peeling paint, leaking roof, cracked floors, and walls. Neither one is immuned to damaging effects of typhoon signal No. 2 nor elevated high enough to protect from impending floodwaters or torrential rains. Excessive budget could have been put to good use by building structurally effective and functional facilities. In these times of supertyphoons and floodwaters, it is time to re-invent our outmoded structures.

As a pro-active measure, there is a need to fortify public, residential and commercial buildings to withstand the rigors of calamities like earthquakes, typhoon, flood and tsunamis. Japan, USA, China, and Taiwan have built their structures to stringent internationl standards to prevent loss of lives and property.

One such school has clearly subscribed on this important precept. Project Compassion PH872 of Aklan Baptist Student Center in Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan constructed a modern three classroom facility with only P600,000 budget. It has granite floors, plastered walls painted both inside and outside, grilled glass windows, movable sliding division, elevated and with power connections. It is clearly a labor of love.

It is built after the temporary school building was toppled to the ground by Typhoon Frank and in response to clamor of parents, faculty and students for a more conducive teaching – learning environment. The center has 273 school children who avails of free education from generous foreign donors/sponsors from Compassion Australia.

Undoubtedly our government officials must show restraint and sobriety when it comes to dispensation of funds. RA 6713 or Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees needs to be implemented according to the spirit and intent of the law. At stake are the lives and future of kids desiring education to improve their way of life. Education is a given right to all, not a luxury for a few. Bottomline is that education creates jobs and improves worker competitiveness hence investment in human resources elevates the productive capacity and well being of society.

Practically, there is no need to increase the budget for education if funds only go to the pockets of kleptocrats. "Matuwid Na Daan", a slogan of President Benigno S. Aquino III is timely but a daunting challenge to his leadership. /MP