Bohol to undertake 68 classrooms, hospital projects

THE Bohol provincial government will undertake the implementation of the construction of 68 classrooms worth P20.4 million ready for use next school year, and the improvement of the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital (GMPH) in Talibon town. This after both Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan approved Gov. Erico Aumentado's request to do so. Following Lapus' approval, Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani wrote Aumentado that his office interposes no objection to the request involving counterparting at P5.1 million each in view of the experience of the provincial government in previous school construction projects. His only requirement was that the provincial government and the Department of Education (DepEd) enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) defining the responsibilities of each party. Bacani said Aumentado's request will be considered in the list of school building projects to be prioritized for funding under the 10% Unallocated Portion of the Calendar Year 2006 DepEd School Building Program. The project involves the construction of 17 two-classroom high school buildings in various towns in Bohol prioritized by an inspection team headed by Marcelo Vigonte of DepEd Bohol Division. The team's basis included the degree of dilapidation of existing school buildings, and the lack of the same. To note, the principal of a recipient school who heaped thanks on the governor said at least, her problem of 12 classes “under the mango tree” will be partially addressed. Aumentado advised her to tap the private sector that has adopt-a-school programs even as he will also endorse the school to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI) that has been undertaking school building projects nationwide through these years. Engr. Rosalinda Yu, provincial general services officer (PGSO) and chair of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has bid out this batch of 34 classrooms.

Another 17 school buildings

Meanwhile, Aumentado also leveraged P5.2 million in local funds to get a P5-million counterpart from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Her response came in the form of Special Allotment Release Order No. A-06-07037 that Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos released for the purpose. This spells another 17 two-classroom high school buildings that Yu has also bid out this month. The notice to apply for eligibility and to bid for both batches gives the contractors 225 calendar days to complete the construction of the school buildings and for them to be ready next school year. At the same time, the SARO covers the President's P5 million counterpart to an equal amount allocated by the province for the improvement of the GMPH. Chief of Hospital Harold Gallego said the improvement involves the construction of a new operating room complex, the renovation and conversion of the present operating room (OR) complex to additional rooms and the expansion of the OR records section. Aumentado said the new building will also house the new equipment now being ordered to be paid out of the one million ren min bi donated by the Provincial Government of Jiangxi of the People's Republic of China . Bonoan's approval came with the proviso that the implementation is subject to MOA with the three DPWH Engineering Districts. The governor insisted that the provincial government undertake the project as this would be more advantageous to the local government that has more reasonable pricing than DPWH. Deductions by the latter for supervision fees go as far up as the regional and central offices although only the district office does the actual supervision.

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