Armm starts repair works of 612 classrooms in public schools

By TENG L. DATU
Cotabato City Bureau Chief .

Cotabato City  – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has started repairing and rehabilitating a total of 612 classrooms both in public elementary and secondary schools across the region before classes begin in June.

Armm’s Education Department (Deped-Armm) Assistant Secretary Alfhadar Pajiji noted that P130 million will be used to repair and rehabilitate school buildings.

“The projects are intended for major repairs while minor repairs including painting and cleaning of classrooms will be done during the Brigada Eskwela, which will start in May,” Pajiji said. Of the amount meant for these activities, the highest allocation is for the repair and rehabilitation of school buildings in Lanao del Sur.

Official Deped-Armm data listed the number of classrooms that need rehabilitation and repair as follows:

• Maguindanao – 158;
• Marawi City – 31;
• Lanao del Sur – 214;
• Lamitan City – 41;
• Basilan – 32;
• Sulu – 106; and
• Tawi-Tawi – 30.

Pajiji said the Deped-Armm and the region’s Department of Public Works and Highways have signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the projects. He added that the district engineers in each province will supervise the projects.

To date, there are 2,155 elementary schools and 304 secondary schools in the region. The Armm is composed of nine schools divisions, namely Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr., Deped-Armm Secretary, assured that the students can use the newly rehabilitated classrooms in June noting that the department will provide a safe and healthy environment for learners and teachers.

“The regional government is continuing its effort to address the lack of classrooms in the region,” Mitmug said. (with report from bpi armm)