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TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) – The national government is pouring out Php2 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division for the rehabilitation of damaged classrooms in the province.

Ronilo Al K.Firmo, Leyte schools division superintendent, said the amount covers three releases. Almost 90 percent of their rehabilitation program is already completed. The first two batches amounted to almost Php1.5 billion.

The 3rd batch of releases include the repairs of 400 partially and totally damaged classrooms. These projects were recently bidded out in the regional office, according to Firmo.

Firmo said that engineers from the DepEd main office were in Leyte to inspect various sites to make sure that no damage classrooms will be excluded in the rehabilitation.

The total amount, according to Firmo, exclude the number of repairs conducted by non-government organizations as well as the international non- government organizations. Several of these classrooms are donations of the United States and Japanese government.

The new school buildings, according to Firmo, are more sturdy, in compliance to President Benigno S. Aquino’s mandate of build back better.

“They are made to withstand a strong typhoon and not easily damaged,” he added.

The DepEd reported a PHP2.5 billion worth damage to classrooms in Leyte after super typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013.

Last year, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that a total of 2,800 new classrooms will be constructed and 17,000 classrooms are up for repair by the department, covering five regions in central Philippines hit by the 2013 catastrophe. (PNA)
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