DepEd issues guidelines on the use of funds in construction, repair of disaster-stricken school buildings

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje and European Union (EU) Ambassador Guy Ledoux lead DepEd and school officials in applying lead- and mercury-free paint at the Transition Laboratory and Conference Room of Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City during the campaign launching dubbed “Lead and Mercury-Safe Schools for Bright and Healthy Kids,” on Tuesday (June 24, 2014). (PNA photos by Ben Briones)

MANILA — Part of the Department of Education’s role in the ongoing rehabilitation in disaster-stricken areas is the construction and repair of damaged school buildings.

Thus, DepEd has issued guidelines on the proper utilization of funds to be used in areas affected by typhoon “Yolanda” and the Bohol earthquake last year.

According to DepEd Order No. 35, Series of 2014, there is a special provision in Republic Act No. 10352 (GAA Fiscal Year 2013) which states that 1 percent of the total appropriations of the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) is authorized to be deducted and utilized for Engineering and Administrative Overhead (EAO) Funds.

Likewise, under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Funded School building projects, 1 percent of the project cost is also authorized to be deducted to cover EAO.

The one percent EAO fund may be used for purposes such as material testing and quality control, survey and field studies, expenses incurred in the monitoring and inspection of projects, among others.

DepEd identifies the list of classrooms to be built using the BEFF and also prescribes the design of classrooms.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), on the other hand, does the bidding and supervision of the projects.

In disaster-hit areas, 561 classrooms will be built by DepEd through the P39-billion BEFF; 1,338 classrooms using P2-billion PAGCOR fund; and 500 classrooms through private donations.

The DepEd has been building four-story, 24-classroom structures using the funds coming from BEFF provided in the national budget and the PAGCOR fund.

The BEFF was formerly called the School building Program for Areas Experiencing Acute Classroom Shortage back when it was introduced in the 2005 national budget.