Negros Occidental given P1.21B budget for K to12 program

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – More than P1 billion was allocated for Negros Occidental for the full implementation of the K to 12 program next year.

This was confirmed by Anthony Liobet, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education-Negros Occidental, who said the central office has allocated P1,212,584,286, which was sourced from the 2015 Basic Educational Facilities Fund.

Liobet said P734,659,000 of the amount was allocated for the construction of 535 classrooms in the province, and P441,712,047 will be for 387 more classrooms to be built this year.

Also, P36,213,239 will be allocated for the technical-vocational workshop building and laboratories for senior high school in the province, said Liobet, adding that 15 laboratories and workshops will be constructed to the different senior high school implementers.

"We have 77 senior high school implementers in the province," he said, and that a public bidding is now underway, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Liobet said the 120-day construction of classrooms is expected to start in November this year and is expected to end by January next year.

For 2015, there are 690 elementary and secondary public schools in the province, he said.

Senior high school covers the last two years of the K to 12 curriculum, where students will go through a core curriculum of eight learning areas and additional subjects (similar to college courses) depending on the track chosen by the students.

The tracks are classified as academics (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Accountancy, Business and Management; Humanities, Social Science, and General Academics Stand); technological-vocational (Agri-Fishery Arts, Home Economics, Industrial Arts and Information Communications Technology); sports (Coaching,Officiating, Fitness, Sports and Recreation Leadership); and arts and design (Production and Performing Arts).