Lapus: ‘DepEd has no budget for toilets’
By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:47:00 06/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines –The Department of Education (DepEd) does not have the additional budget to construct toilets for public schools, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said Monday.
Earlier media reports said that, aside from classroom shortages, many schools also lack proper sanitation facilities.
Lapus explained that the DepEd prioritizes the construction of classrooms and that that the standard design for classrooms does not include toilets.
However, some schools that double as evacuation or relocation sites have kitchen and toilet facilities, said Lapus. He added that the design of these buildings make them “flood-proof.”
Lapus urged local government units as well as private groups involved in “adopt a school projects” to help fund the construction of toilets for public schools.
He also suggested that lawmakers should use their “pork barrel” funds to build toilets for public schools.