Repair, rehab of ARMM schools begin

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.

Assistant Secretary Alfhadar Pajiji, of the Department of Education in ARMM, said some 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,” Assistant Secretary Pajiji said.

The highest funding allocation for the repair and rehabilitation of school buildings is Lanao del Sur.

Official DEPEDARMM 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.

Assistant Secretary Pajiji said the DEPEDARMM and the Department of Public Works and Highwaysarmm have signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the projects with district engineers in each province to supervise the projects.

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 Tawitawi. To date, there are some 2,155 elementary schools and 304 secondary schools in the region.

Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., DEPED-ARMM Secretary, has assured that the students can use the newly rehabilitated classrooms in the opening of classes in June. He said DEPEDARMM 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,” Secretary Mitmug said.

Volunteers across the region also started the second batch of Brigada Eskwela in Marawi City. The DEPED-ARMM conducted the first batch of Brigada Eskwela in the city in December last year, which brought together volunteers from various Deped offices across the country. Brigada Eskwela or the annual drive that brings together education stakeholders to prepare public schools across the country for the upcoming school year.