The construction of 252 temporary learning shelters (TLS) across Cebu province will begin in mid-June, aiming to supplement schools whose classrooms were destroyed by two successive disasters in 2025. However, the initial rollout in island schools will experience slight delays due to insufficient funds for the unexpectedly high cost of transporting materials to those areas.
Budget Constraints and Adjustments
Christopher Baricuatro, executive assistant and focal person of the Provincial School Board (PSB), said the program originally planned 35 lots to build 269 temporary classrooms. However, the approved budget of PHP 295.9 million, estimated at PHP 1.1 million per classroom, can only sustain 33 lots. “I didn’t realize that TLS would be more expensive when contracted in the islands. That’s why the budget fell short,” Baricuatro explained in an interview on Friday, May 22. The construction of TLS in island areas will now be funded through a supplemental budget.
Disaster Background
This project addresses damage from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Bogo City on September 30, 2025, and Typhoon Tino on November 4. “On June 2, we have a scheduled school board meeting to include the supplemental budget,” Baricuatro said when asked when the remaining classrooms would start. He added that the supplemental budget will be submitted to the Provincial School Board during the meeting and still needs approval from the Provincial Board.
Timeline and Implementation
Although classes start this June, the province aims to make the TLS available as soon as possible upon completion. Contracts for the first 33 lots are now final, including Notices of Award and Licenses to Proceed. Since each TLS structure contains only one classroom, construction will take 30 to 45 days. The province targets completion and ribbon-cutting ceremonies by the end of July. The TLS will be built within school grounds, eliminating the need for the province to purchase new land. The Department of Education (DepEd) 7 identified the most urgent areas, while local governments provided space within schools.
Future Plans: Smart Buildings
In addition to temporary shelters, the provincial government is preparing to fund a long-term infrastructure project: the construction of two-story “smart buildings.” The province plans to build 51 smart buildings, one per municipality across Cebu, each containing four smart classrooms. “I already have some smart classrooms but haven’t paid for them yet,” Baricuatro said, expecting the payment to be processed next week. Bidding and cluster allocations for the smart buildings are also scheduled for June.
