DBM releases P500M to build public schools for indigenous peoples in Mindanao

New public schools will be built in various provinces in Regions 9, 10, 11 and 12 to accommodate students from indigenous peoples’ (IP) communities. 

The amount of P500 million was released to the Department of Education (DepEd) recently to implement the “Establishment of New Public Schools for Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao: Classroom Component” project, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Under the project, 605 classrooms will be built in 251 sites in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Agusan del Norte.

An estimated 19,622 students will be served for School Year 2016–2017, according to DepEd. These students belong to the following IP groups: Subanen, Sama-Bajau, Higaonon, Matigsalog, Manobo, Talaandig, Tigwahanon, Umayamnon, Ata-Manobo, Bagobo, Blaan, Diangan, Dibabawon, Mandaya, Mansaka, Matigsalog, Tagakaolo, Tagabawa/Bagobo, Manobo-Dulangan, Tboli, Uvu Manobo, Banwaon, and Mamanwa.

The funds for the project were charged against the Contingent Fund for 2015 and approved by President Aquino early this month. The project was proposed by DepEd last December 14.

DepEd said the project will employ members of the beneficiary communities to construct the classrooms within the implementation framework of the Kalahi-CIDSS National Community-Driven Development Program of the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD).

DepEd also said the average cost per classroom under the project is only P825,000, compared with its standard cost of P1.1 million, following the standard Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) design for a single story classroom with toilet. Instead of this design, however, the construction design of the classrooms will be based on indigenous architecture, and local materials will be used.

Moreover, the lands on which the schools will be built are within the beneficiaries’ ancestral domain. A contract of usufruct will be executed between the IP groups and DepEd for the use of the property for educational purposes.