Valenzuela, DepEd ink P103-M deal for new classrooms

MANILA, Philippines - The Valenzuela City government and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed Wednesday a P103.8-million contract for the construction of at least 68 additional classrooms in the city.

Ahna Mejia, city public information officer, said Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian and DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro led the signing, which was also attended by Francisco Varela, DepEd undersecretary for finance and administration, and Flordeliza Mayari, city schools division superintendent.

Mejia said the city government will shoulder the initial 50 percent of the building cost, and DepEd will release counterpart funds when the city schools division superintendent confirms that the construction is 50 percent complete.

According to Mejia, the project involves the construction of a three-story, 18-classroom building in Pio Valenzuela Elementary School and a four-story, 50-classroom building in Dalandanan National High School.  

Mejia said that DepEd data shows the city has still a shortage of at least 1,084 classrooms.