LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The education department explained that there are certain layers of the bureaucracy that are being observed in the identification and implementation of infrastructure projects such as the construction and repair of school buildings and other major projects of the agency.
Education Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua disclosed that for the new construction of school buildings, it will be the agency that will identify the suitable site where the structures will be erected but it is the public works department that will provide for the funds and subsequently implement the said projects.
The education official stated that once the project is completed, the same is subject to acceptance by the head of the division with the conformity of the agency’s technical personnel.
Further, the implementation of the school building projects is under the jurisdiction of the public works department and that it is only when the projects are completed and ready to be accepted that the agency is involved as it is the division head that will formally accept the same to pave the way for the release of the payments to the contractors.
In the case of repairs that will be done in school buildings and other major infrastructure projects of the agency, he claimed that it is the agency through its engineers that is in charge of the prosecution of the projects.
According to him, the current implementation of blended learning has paved the way for the ship buildings in various parts of the country not to be overcrowded following the opening of classes because students are now required to stay home, thus, the agency will have a chance to continuously working on how to address the aforesaid gap, especially when face to face classes will resume once there will be vaccines and medicines that will be discovered by experts to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Undersecretary Pascua underscored that if the education department will be able to effectively and efficiently address the issues and concerns affecting the implementation of blended learning, there is a big possibility that the same will be institutionalized that will provide the ultimate solution to the usual problem on the lack of classrooms every school year.
He stipulated that once blended learning will be stabilized through the guaranteed connectivity in the countryside, it will surely be an added option for students to take aside from the traditional face to face learning so that the presence of a huge number of individuals will be minimized and prevent them from contracting illnesses that might compromise their health condition and even affect the health care system in their places.
He assured that the education department will continue to ensure the provision of adequate service vehicles and units of equipment to the different division offices in the country so that the delivery of lessons to the recipients will not be compromised, especially with the prevailing crisis situation.
Pascua expressed his gratitude to Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap for coming to the defense of the agency during the budget deliberations in the House of Representatives because he is fully aware of what is happening on the ground.
By HENT