CyberEd Will Not Sidetrack DepEd’s Infrastructure Projects
Construction of school buildings, classrooms and the provision of
furniture is continually being addressed with or without the Cyber
Education Project squelching speculations that basic education
resources will be neglected once CEP is in full swing.
Budgetary allocation, in fact, has steadily increased. For
rehabilitation, DepEd’s earmarked budget has doubled from P1 billion
in 2006 to P2 billion in 2007. Meanwhile, budget for the regular
School Building Program, in partnership with DPWH, has significantly
increased from P1 billion to P1.7 billion this year. The 2008 budget
proposal has set aside P2 billion for the said program.
Moreover, DepEd continues to exceed the
3,000 school building per year-target – proof of its continuing effort
to meet the ideal 1:35 classroom-student ratio. In addition, budget
allocation has increased from P1 billion in 2006 to P1.6 billion this
year. DepEd plans to augment the budget proposal for 2008 to P3.7
billion. Meanwhile, the Secondary
Education Development and Improvement Project (SEDIP) has set aside
34% of its budget for classroom construction. In addition, some P214
million have been allotted for the procurement of school furniture.
These efforts speak of the department’s commitment to address the
infrastructure needs of the public school system whether or not Cyber
Ed project pushes through. |