SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Department of Education to prepare the needed infrastructure for the safe reopening of schools even if the pilot tests of limited face-to-face classes have yet to start.

“Dapat ngayon pa lang ay pinaghahandaan na natin ang muling pagbubukas ng mga paaralan at gawin nating prayoridad ang pagkakaroon ng sapat, ligtas, at matibay na mga pasilidad, pati na rin ng malinis na tubig sa ating mga paaralan upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral at mga guro,” the senator said.

Adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities are needed, Gatchalian pointed out.

According to DepEd, 3,861 public schools have no access to potable water, while 7,704 group handwashing facilities need to be constructed.

This year, the government allotted P11,146,531,000 for Basic Education facilities, P2,920,325,000 of which is for the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings, and technical vocational laboratories.

The P2.9-billion allocation also covers the construction of water and sanitation facilities.

Meanwhile, P4.7 billion was allotted for the rehabilitation, renovation, repair, and improvement of school buildings and facilities.

“Matapos ang mahabang panahon na wala ang ating mga kabataan sa paaralan, dapat lang na tiyakin nating ligtas ang babalikan nilang mga gusali at silid-aralan,” the senator said.