Government urged to address classroom shortage through multiple solutions

November 3, 2024 , 06:05 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(November 3, 2024) – Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian stressed on Sunday the need for multiple solutions to address the shortage of classrooms in the Philippines.

He made the remark based on the inventory report by the Department of Education (DepEd) last 2023 that classroom shortage nationwide stood at over 165,000 and requires a budget allocation worth P413.6 billion to solve.

“Kung hindi tayo magiging maparaan sa pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan, patuloy lamang na lalaki ang mga kakulangang haharapin natin,” said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, in a media release.

The former Valenzuela mayor proposed implementing a “counterpart program,” where local government units and the national government will shoulder the 50% cost of constructing new classrooms each.

Gatchalian added that government assistance to students and teachers in private education could decongest overcrowded public schools and leverage public-private partnerships.

A report by the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed that only 192 of the target 6,379 classrooms were built last year under the then DepEd secretary Vice Pres. Sara Duterte-Carpio. She resigned from her post last June.

The embattled Vice President once described the classroom shortage as a “quicksand problem” that could be addressed through sufficient funding.

Last year, the DepEd received an allocation of over P710 billion from more than P633 billion in 2022. Duterte-Carpio, however, left the agency still reeling with severe classroom deficiencies.

Last October, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) noted that the underutilization of the basic education facilities fund has led to the delay in school infrastructure construction in the country.

“The way I see it, the problem right now is the red tape, the bureaucracy. Napakaraming paperwork, delays and miscoordination within DepEd and DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways],” said Gatchalian during the hearing.

Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. urged the DepEd to continue improving the quality of education amid the ongoing learning crisis.

(With reports from Meanne Los Baños-Oroceo, News5)

Privacy Statement

Our Privacy Commitment

TV5 Network Inc. values and respects your privacy. We are committed to safeguarding your personal data in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its implementing rules and regulations.

We have developed a Privacy Policy that adopts and observes appropriate standards for personal data protection. While our Privacy Policy sets out the general principles governing the collection, use, and disclosure of our users’ personal information, our Privacy Commitment seeks to inform you more about TV5’s privacy practices.

Why do we collect your personal information (as applicable)?

We may collect and maintain basic information about you as site user of TV5 sites for the following purposes:

To deliver news and updates on current events, sports, esports and entertainment;
To share livestreams of news and sports events;
To understand our viewers’ needs and preferences;
To meet legal and regulatory requirements; and
To perform other processes or disclosures that are required to comply with pertinent laws, rules, or regulations.

Where do we get your personal information?

There are several ways we collect your personal information.

Information that you personally provided.

Most of the personal information we have are those that you have provided us when you:
- Register to our programs or services;
- Inquired, filed a complaint or requested for our services;
- Took part in our research and surveys; and/or
- Became our Partner, Vendor, Contractor or Supplier.

Information we collect during your engagement with us

We also collect information as you use our products and services, like:
- Viewing our websites;
- Activities that are being tracked by our website cookies;
- Calling our hotline;
- Using our apps, websites, and self-service channels and portals; and/or
- Joining our promos, prize raffles, or rewards and loyalty programs.

Information we collect from other sources

Other means of collection of information may be through:
- Our market research initiatives;
- When you visit and use our websites and mobile application; and
- Subsidiaries, affiliates, and third-party business partners to whom you have given consent to share your information to us.

When do we disclose personal information?

There may be instances when we are required to share the information you provided us. In such cases, we ensure that your personal information will be disclosed on a confidential manner, through secure channels and in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and other privacy laws.

We will never share, rent, or sell your personal information to third parties outside of TV5 except in special cases where you have given consent, and in cases described in our privacy policy.

In some instances, we may be required to disclose your personal information to our agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, business partners and other third-party agencies and service providers as part of our regular business operations and for the provision of our programs and services. This means we might share your information with our service providers, contractors, and professional advisers who help us provide our services.

How we protect your personal information

The integrity, confidentiality, and security of your information is important to us. We have implemented technical, organizational, and physical security measures that are designed to protect your information from unauthorized or fraudulent access, alteration, disclosure, misuse, and other unlawful activities.

We also put in effect the following safeguards:

We keep and protect your information using a secured server behind a firewall, encryption and security controls;
We keep your information only for as long as it is necessary for us to (a) provide the products and services that you avail from us, (b) for our legitimate business purposes, (c) to comply with pertinent laws, and (d) for special cases that will require the exercise or defense of legal claims;
We limit the access to your information only to qualified and authorized personnel who are trained to handle your information with strict confidentiality;
We undergo regular audits and rigorous testing of our infrastructure’s security protocols to ensure your data is always protected;
We promptly notify you and the National Privacy Commission when sensitive personal information that may, under the circumstances, be used to enable identity fraud are reasonably believed to have been acquired by an unauthorized person; and
We let you update your information securely to keep our records accurate.

TV5 will not collect, use, or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than the purpose that you may have given your consent for.

What are your choices?

We make sure that we have your consent to continue to collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes that we have identified. We want you to know that you may object or withdraw your consent and/or edit your consent preferences at any time.

If you wish to have access to the personal information in our custody or if you think that the personal information you provided is incomplete, or otherwise inaccurate, you may get in touch with our Data Protection Officer through the contact details provided below. In some instances, we may request for supporting documents or proof before we effect requested changes.

Data Protection Officer
TV5 Network Inc.
Reliance corner Sheridan Streets
Mandaluyong City
tv5dataprivacy@tv5.com.ph

What happens when there are changes in our Policy?

From time to time, we may update our privacy policy and practices to comply with changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements, adapt to new technologies and protocols, and align with the best practices of the industry.

You will be provided notices if the changes are significant and, if we are required by law, we will obtain your updated consent.