E. Visayas anticipates P220 million for school furnishings

Cesafinews | E. Visayas anticipates P220 million for school furnishings | TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Thursday that more than 300 public schools in Eastern Visayas will receive desks and chairs for pupils and teachers by October.

In an interview, Jazmin Calzita, the regional information officer for DepEd Eastern Visayas, stated that procurement is currently underway at the central office and school furniture will be delivered to the region by October.

312 public campuses will receive 99,605 sets of chairs and tables as part of the PHP220 million school furniture program for the region, which is funded by appropriations for 2021 and 2022.

The procurement is founded on the actual evaluation conducted by school officials over the previous school years. Calzita told the Philippine News Agency that while waiting for the delivery, excess furniture from other schools is repurposed for use on campuses with a furniture shortage in the vicinity.

The region expects the delivery of 71,110 individual chairs and tables set for elementary pupils, 24,762 for junior high school learners, 2,028 for senior high school, 1,495 chairs and tables set for instructors, 168 working table and stool sets, and 42 science laboratory working table and stool sets.

In accordance with Republic Act 11394, or An Act Obligating Public and Private Educational Institutions to Provide Neutral Desks to Students, DepEd’s eight-year procurement plan, which began in 2021, aims to provide one stool and one table for every student.

According to the law, a neutral desk is a table or armchair that is suitable for both left-handed and right-handed pupils.

The standard design of armchairs for the DepEd will be composed of wood, wood and steel, engineered bamboo, and nonwood-based materials.

Calzita stated that the highest priority will be given to schools receiving new classrooms through the national and municipal school construction programs.

According to the most recent furniture analysis, schools in need of classroom seating are the next priority.

However, Calzita has no record of the quantity of furniture required by the over 4,000 public institutions in the region.

As of the 31st of August, or the third day of the new school year, the region had already enrolled 1,113,969 students, representing 86.96 percent of the actual number of students registered during the previous academic year.(via PNA)