Nancy on repair, construction of schools in Yolanda areas: 'Why just now?'
...says students face double whammy--victims of trauma, neglect

Two strokes of hard luck.

Senator Nancy Binay today nitpicked at the apparent delay in the repair and rehabilitation of classrooms damaged by super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) noting that students should not be made to suffer because of bureaucratic neglect.

Binay said it is unfair to the school children, who are also victims of Yolanda, to go through another bad experience simply because concerned government agencies did not have the urgency and foresight to build and repair school buildings just in time for the opening of classes in June.

"Seven months after Yolanda, marami pa ring sirang mga eskwelahan. There are reports of school children not able to focus on their lessons, and complain of the heat in temporary tents," Binay added.

According to reports, school children in Bohol, Zamboanga and Yolanda-stricken areas are forced to attend classes in makeshift temporary learning shelters either in tents or structures made of plywood and corrugated sheets.

"Ang medyo nakakalungkot, March or April pa natapos ng Department of Education at Department of Public Works and Highways ang review ng bagong design ng classrooms, so bakit ngayon pa lang magbi-bid at mag-aaward ng kontrata para sa repair at rehab?" the lady senator asked.

At least 2,000 new classrooms have to be built and about 18,000 more have to be repaired according to the disaster-resilient design made by the DepEd and DPWH in the areas hit by Yolanda alone.

The DPWH said that construction time would be about 60 to 90 days. The department estimates the cost of construction and repair at P8.2 billion.

Binay also took notice of the preparations that the government is undertaking on the onset of the rainy season.

"Sabi ng DepEd, malamang sa July pa maaprubahan ng DBM ang release ng pondo. By the time na matapos ang mga classroom, kasagsagan na ng rainy season sa malaking bahagi ng Visayas," she pointed out.

Binay added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should also provide support services to address post-traumatic stress disorder in children.

"Double-whammy na ang nangyari sa mga bata dahil sa trauma at red tape," she said.

The lady senator also called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to fasttrack the release of the necessary funds for construction and repair of school buildings.

"Kailangan na nating madaliin ang construction at repair ng mga classrooms para walang bata ang magkaklase sa mga sirang classroom," Binay said.

"May pondo namang nakalaan para rito," she added, noting that the P14.6 billion supplemental budget for rehabilitation was signed by the President late last year.