Under the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the Department of Education will distribute bamboo-made school furniture in selected public schools starting in February.
This is part of the 15-year policy under Executive Order No. 879, s. 2010, requiring that 20% of school furniture should be made of bamboo.
From February to March, the DepEd will be distributing a total of 144,081 sets of tables and chairs for students and 3,235 sets for teachers. This will repair old and worn out tables and chairs affecting the everyday performance of learners in class.
This will also pave the way for DepEd to comply with the government policy mandating that 20 percent of school furniture should be made of bamboo. The directive was given last 2010 but it is only now that the actual procurement and delivery was done under the leadership of Angara.
“Matagal na itong polisiya. Pero, ngayon ay binibigyang-buhay natin ito.”
“Matagal na itong polisiya. Pero, ngayon ay binibigyang-buhay natin ito. For the first time in history, naipatutupad na natin ang mandatory 20% bamboo allocation sa school furniture,” the education chief said.
“Gusto naming ipakita na pwedeng maging matibay, sustainable, at de-kalidad ang school furniture para sa ating learners at teachers.”
“Gusto naming ipakita na pwedeng maging matibay, sustainable, at de-kalidad ang school furniture para sa ating learners at teachers. Kasabay nito, napo-promote din natin ang Tatak Pinoy, na matagal na nating isinusulong—isang pagkilala sa galing at husay ng mga Pilipino,” the education chief said.
DepEd also announced that it will continue the expansion and rehabilitation of facilities in schools. There are 5,766 classrooms worth P16.19 billion for construction under the For Issuance of Special Allotment Release Order (FISARO) Batch 1.
From this fund, DepEd will be constructing 2,333 Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS) worth P3.5 bilyon. There will also be 1,333 LCS worth P2 billion under the Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP).
According to Angara, DepEd will also prioritize the construction of 800 classrooms worth P3 billion for Last Mile Schools, and another 1,300 additional classrooms with an approved program of works worth P3 billion.
To ensure that classrooms will be conducive to learning, DepEd has allotted P3.69 billion under the FISARO Batch 1 for 24,424 tables and chairs for teachers and 1,099,111 tables and chairs for students nationwide.
Meanwhile, under the FISARO Batch 2, DepEd allotted P11.35 billion for the completion of 2,067 classrooms, the repair of 11,886 classrooms, and the restoration of 258 Gabaldon school buildings. There is also a P500 million fund for the construction and improvement of School Health Facilities.
“Malinaw ang direksyon natin ngayong taon. Patuloy nating tinutugunan ang kakulangan sa pasilidad ng mga paaralan sa buong bansa. Gagamitin natin nang maayos ang pondong inilaan sa atin para makapagbigay ng mas mabilis at mas epektibong solusyon—para sa kapakanan ng ating mga guro at mag-aaral,” Angara concluded.
