The Mandaue City Government has formally requested a substantial budget of P439 million to address a critical issue plaguing local education: severe classroom overcrowding. This funding is intended to finance the construction of new, four-storey school buildings across multiple barangays where current learning facilities are stretched beyond capacity.
Accelerating Educational Infrastructure Projects
Mayor Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano announced that the requested funds would be sourced from the recently launched Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). This initiative, introduced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang under the program "Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang," aims to decentralize funding by providing direct financial support to local governments. This approach enables cities to expedite essential community projects based on immediate needs.
"What the National Government did with this is to decentralize, so it is now easier to implement the construction of our classrooms here," Mayor Ouano stated in Cebuano, highlighting the streamlined process for infrastructure development.
Targeted Locations for New Classrooms
The city's priority list for new classroom construction focuses on Barangays Paknaan, Tabok, Umapad, and Labogon. These areas were selected based on urgent recommendations from the Department of Education, reflecting the most pressing needs for additional learning spaces.
The largest project outlined in the P439 million budget is a massive four-story building with 60 classrooms planned for Paknaan National High School. Additionally, Paknaan Elementary School is slated to receive a 32-classroom building, while Labogon Elementary School will benefit from 16 new classrooms.
Expanding Educational Capacity Across Schools
Other institutions will also see significant improvements. Canduman National High School and Tabok National High School are each allocated 12 new classrooms. Furthermore, Cabancalan National High School and Don Calixto Yongco Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Tawason will each gain eight classrooms to alleviate congestion.
To ensure swift implementation, the National Government will release funds directly to the local government. However, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will oversee the actual construction of these high-rise buildings, leveraging their specialized engineering expertise for quality and safety.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans
Addressing classroom overcrowding remains the top priority for Mandaue City. Mayor Ouano recently met with Education Secretary Sonny Angara to advocate for an additional P700 million mid-rise building in Paknaan. Representative Emmarie Mabanag Ouano-Dizon is actively pursuing this substantial project to further enhance educational infrastructure.
If approved and funded, these multi-million peso initiatives will provide students in Mandaue City with the spacious and comfortable learning environments they desperately need. By significantly reducing classroom congestion, the city aims to foster a brighter and more effective educational experience for thousands of young learners.
