Life goes on in Bohol on first day of classes. At the Sagbayan Central Elementary School in quake-damaged Bohol province, some classes are held inside temporary tent classrooms on Monday, June 2, the first day of school. No lights, no electric fans, just teachers and students wanting to make education happen. Ivan Mayrina
Following reports of classroom shortages nationwide despite the government's earlier pronouncement that the backlog has already been addressed, Malacañang said on Monday that recent calamities and the country's growing population have resulted in a new backlog.
"The student population is growing, and also there were considerable damage from the typhoons that were incurred from the various typhoons that we experienced, and therefore, the construction goes on," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press briefing.
If not for these, he said they wouldn't have a shortage of classrooms since they have already addressed the backlog left by the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2010.
"We have already fully completed [that] and, in fact, we are a bit more than the backlog. That was the 2010 backlog that was present when we came in," he said.
President Benigno Aquino III had earlier promised to wipe out the classroom backlog of 66,800, which Education Sec. Armin Luistro said his department had surpassed by 13.
Lacierda, however, said he will still have to ask the Department of Education regarding the new backlog. "We will ask DepEd as to the total number of classrooms set to be constructed," he said.
Opening of classes
The Palace official, meanwhile, said that Monday's opening of classes was "generally peaceful and orderly."
"As of this time and date, school opening from the PNP’s standpoint has so far been generally peaceful and orderly," Lacierda said, citing information from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Palace had earlier said that 26 million grade school and high school students were expected to start another academic year on Monday.
In preparation for this, Lacierda said the PNP deployed 18,500 of its people to more than 7,400 police assistance desks nationwide.
"This is over and above the regular mobile and foot patrols that will be likewise focused on the different schools and campuses. The PNP has earlier set the operational guidelines and procedures to ensure a safe, secured, and peaceful opening of classes up to the succeeding weeks," he said.
Teachers' threat
As for the threat of public school teachers to go on mass leave pending the government's action on their request for salary increase, Lacierda reiterated his call for them to consider the welfare of their students.
"We understand their concerns but I hope that the teachers will consider the concerns of the students," Lacierda said.
Lacierda added that there is a need to study their petition for a wage increase since this will also affect other state employees.
"We will have to look at the numbers kasi, at the end of the day, it boils down to how much are they proposing, and then how much it will impact the national budget, and what will be the sources of revenue for the increase of—assuming—of the proposed wage increase on the part of government employees," he said. —KBK, GMA News
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