Chiz Escudero

I support the release of P400-million fund for the repair and rehabilitation of 19 state colleges and universities all over the country despite concerns about its timing.

There is a pressing need to repair and rehabilitate the schools way ahead of the rainy season when typhoons come in full force. It was precisely the series of typhoons and, in the case of certain towns of Bicol, volcanic eruption that wrought havoc on the school buildings. 

For some schools, I fear their structural integrity may have been compromised.

Some quarters claimed the release, coming as it did a few weeks before hotly contested national and local elections, is intended to salvage the deteriorating image of the administration and earn electoral support for its candidates.

But the safety and convenience of the students and teachers cannot wait until after the elections. The prohibition on the release of public funds during elections does not apply.

Let the administration take all credit as long as the money goes for the intended purpose. Anyway, the electorate is fully aware that the funds are drawn from taxes paid by the people.

The bulk of the fund—P276.4 million—is going to be used for the repair of Bicol University, Catanduanes State College, Sorsogon State College, Partido State University, Camarines Sur Polytechnic College, Camarines State Agricultural College, Camarines Norte State Colle, and Masbate [Mandaon] School of Arts & Trades. 

The fund is part of the Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) under the 2007 national budget.   Aside from Bicol, the other regions and the amount allocated for repair and rehabilitation of schools in them are Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), P106.9 million; and Southern Tagalog, P16 million.

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