FIVE public schools in Maguindanao province have opened newly constructed school buildings collectively worth P17.4 million, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said on Wednesday.

The project, initiated by the BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher, Technical Education, was funded under the 2018 Basic Education Facilities Fund.

The recipients are the Looy Integrated Technical High School (P2,532,684); Looy Elementary School (P3,385,952); Refra Elementary School (P3,385,952); Embing Mama Elementary School, (P3,609,541); Don A. Martinez Elementary School (P4,550,702).

Chief Education Facilities Section Engr. Zubair Guiaman said the ministry prioritizes these schools in providing school buildings considering their situation.

“We know that previously, the region was considered as a conflict-affected area [and] confronted with different situations, particularly the peace and order issues,” he said.

“We should maximize the opportunities that we have to deliver responsive and appropriate projects for our Bangsamoro constituents. Ibig sabihin, hindi lang double time kundi dapat triple time ang ginagawa natin para sa mga implementation ng programs at projects dahil maaaring bumaba ang bilang ng mga batang pumapasok sa paaralan,” he added.

Guiaman said that construction of school buildings and facilities in communities under the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas across the Bangsamoro region is underway.

“Meron tayong guidelines na sinusundan from Department of Education (DepEd)- Central Office, kabilang dito ang fifth class municipality; five years na hindi napatayuan ng mga [school] buildings, Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas at mga paaralan na may higit na pangangailangan,” he said.