SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 1 is strengthening the delivery of quality education in the Ilocos region through the construction of new classrooms and the restoration of older school buildings.
During an episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas program on Oct. 15, DepEd-1 Regional Director Tolentino Aquino reported that the construction of new classroom facilities and repairs of existing structures have been ongoing since 2022.
“Our education facilities number 3,392 across public and private schools. We are fortunate to have constructed 382 new school facilities for our learners in 2022,” Aquino shared.
He further explained that 301 of the new classrooms built in 2022 replaced old structures destroyed by previous calamities, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to maintaining quality education despite the recurring natural disasters, such as typhoons and earthquakes, that impact the region.
In 2023, an additional 218 classrooms were constructed, building on the infrastructure improvements made in the previous year.
The restoration of older facilities also began in 2022 and continues this year.
“We were allocated funds for the repair of 206 classrooms in 2022. In 2023, we repaired 665 more classrooms through collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with another 125 classrooms for repair so far in 2024,” Aquino added.
Nora G. Villanueva, a public school teacher at the Don Eufemio F. Eriguel Memorial National High School in Agoo, expressed her support for DepEd’s construction and repair efforts, emphasizing how these improvements are crucial in accommodating the growing student population.
The school has recently benefited from the addition of new facilities, which are now actively being utilized by senior high school students in the area.
“The new facilities are essential because of the increasing number of students enrolling in public schools. Education initiatives are more effective when they are supported by modern and well-maintained facilities,” Villanueva said.
DepEd also reported that 21 additional classrooms were constructed in the “Last Mile” schools, helping to implement education initiatives in geographically isolated and underserved areas of the Ilocos region.
In line with its holistic approach, DepEd Region 1 also built 61 health facilities in select schools in 2022, addressing the health needs of students, teachers, and other staff members. (MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
