Benguet 1st Eng’g District finishes 22 public school buildings

February 4, 2020 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Twenty-two out of 26 public school building projects were completed in more than a year in the province, especially in the towns covered by the Benguet First Engineering District Office-Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWHCAR).

Out of the completed projects, two were already turned over to the education department. These completed school building projects cost the government in the amount of P572.6 million through Department Education (DepEd) funds CY 2018, and constructed by the department of public works.

This is based on the List of Completed School Building Projects submitted to Engineer Ireneo Gallato, head of Benguet First Engineering District by Engineer Marjory Banao, in-charge of monitoring unit of the agency, and as reported by the various project engineers of the district.

One school building has three to four levels with at least six classrooms and is equipped with lighting’s. These school buildings (elementary and high school) are spread in Itogon, Kabayan, Bokod, Sablan, Tuba and this capital town.

The remaining four school building projects are currently under construction and expected to be completed before the year ends.

In 2019, and in line with the government’s policy of convergence, aimed to boost economic activities, the agency also completed several projects to include roads and bridges with a total amount of P125 million.

The funds were sourced from department of trade and tourism, respectively. And the projects were undertaken in Bokod, Itogon,Sablan, Kabayan and Tuba.

Actually, in 2019, Benguet First Engineering District Office received a total allocation of P1.5 billion.

“For this year (2020), all projects have to be finished within the calendar year,” said Gallato, pointing out the cash basis budgeting adjustment policy of the national government.

For 2020, the agency has a proposed budget worth P1.3 billion, some P200 million lower from the previous year.

Primo Agatep/ABN