By Alexander Villafania
PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA – The Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has committed to build 1,000 classrooms for the next two years.
The classrooms will be completed by December 2012. By then, it will represent 10 percent of the maximum 10,000 classrooms that the Department of Education (DepEd) is targeting to build every year in an effort to fill the 150,000 classroom deficit.
The classrooms will be spread out across the country and DepEd will identify the specific areas that need classrooms. These will have provisions for desks and armchairs, books, and educational materials. PAGCOR said it will allot a certain amount from its annual revenues to build these facilities.
PAGCOR Chief Executive Officer Cristano Naguiat, Jr. signed a memorandum of agreement with DepEd Armin Luistro last June 30, which coincided with the 100th day in office of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
DepEd has been partnering with private funding in building classrooms. In addition, several local government units, through the League of Municipalities Cities, and Provinces, have also partnered with DepEd in creating more classrooms.
Around 22 million students are attending public elementary and high school this year although there is still a huge shortage in the number of classrooms.
DepEd received a budget of P207 billion, the agency with the largest budget for this year.
