Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said its secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte, has ordered the creation of two new offices under the agency that will focus on building school infrastructure, and procuring processes.
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“Seeing the importance of really focusing on school infrastructure, the Vice President, secretary of Education, ordered the creation of a separate strand with an undersecretary that will be focused solely on school infrastructure and facilities,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
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The department has been beset by a host of problems, including a shortage of classrooms and allegations of corruption linked to the procurement of laptops in 2021 that a Senate investigation found to be overpriced.
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The department aims to build around 6,000 new classrooms this year to address congestion in regions like the National Capital Region and Calabarzon. The DepEd said ₱15.6 billion has been allocated for this program.
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Based on the DepEd’s website, Epimaco Densing is currently the undersecretary for School Infrastructure and Facilities.
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Poa said the separate strand for school infrastructure will not only streamline the process but also ensure coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, which will be the implementing agency.
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The government will also ensure that these new facilities will be disaster-resilient, he noted.
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A memorandum of agreement regarding this program will be signed next week.
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Poa also noted that the DepEd has created a separate strand that will focus on all matters related to procurement.
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Gerard Chan is its undersecretary, with Omar Alexander Romero as his assistant secretary, according to the DepEd website.
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Poa said this was formed even prior to the release of a Senate panel report recommending the filing of charges against several Budget and Education officials over the procurement of overpriced laptops in 2021.
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