Manila, June 1 (Engineering Daily) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has delivered 47 new school buildings for the students in the Province of Southern Leyte in time for opening of Academic Year 2018-2019.
DPWH-Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said that the school buildings constructed under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEF) have a total of 96 classrooms comprehensively designed to withstand destruction from natural disasters.
“These resilient classrooms that can be converted into an evacuation center are vital here in Eastern Visayas as the province is susceptible to natural calamities,” said Junia.
The structural components of these school facilities such as footing, column, and beam were improved based on the upgraded design approved by the DPWH and DepEd.
Among the 47 school buildings, 7 are in Maasin City; 5 each in Bontoc, Hinundayan, and St. Bernard; 4 in Silago; 3 each in Padre Burgos, San Francisco, and Sogod towns; 2 each in Limasawa, Malitbog, and Hinunangan towns; and 1 each in Liloan, Macrohon, Tomas Oppus, Pintuyan, Anahawan, and Libagon towns.
DPWH commenced the construction of these schools in the fourth quarter of 2017 and is now serviceable to accommodate thousands of students who be returning to school this June.
Overall, DPWH has constructed a total of P1.21-billion worth of classrooms and technical vocational facilities in Southern Leyte.
