By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian on Sunday (03 Nov 2024) emphasized the need for multiple solutions to tackle the problem on classroom shortage.
“Dahil napakarami pang kulang na silid-aralan sa ating bansa at sa laki ng halagang kakailanganin natin upang mapunan ang naturang kakulangan, kailangang humanap tayo ng iba’t ibang paraan upang matugunan ang hamong ito,” Gatchalian said.
“Kung hindi tayo magiging maparaan sa pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan, patuloy lamang na lalaki ang mga kakulangang haharapin natin,” he added.
According to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) National School Building Inventory as of 2023, the classroom shortage is estimated at 165,443.
One proposed solution from Gatchalian is the implementation of a ‘counterpart program,’ where participating local government units (LGUs) cover 50 percent of the cost of constructing new classrooms, while the national government funds the other 50 percent.
The senator stated that addressing this issue should be a shared responsibility between the national and local governments.
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