DESPITE the criticism from Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday thanked the senator for addressing the issue on educational budget, particularly the cost of every classroom.

“DepEd thanks the good Sen. Miriam Santiago for the general concerns she raised on the cost of our classrooms as this likewise shows that she is a true DepEd partner in promoting quality education,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali told The Manila Times.

Earlier, Santiago said that the cost of P1.1 million for every classroom is too high.

But Umali said that the P1.1 million cost for every classroom raised by Santiago is a weighted average of the single and two-storey classrooms under the DepEd’s Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP).

“Actually, a single-story classroom with toilet, furniture and fixtures is 730, 000. While a two-story classroom with toilet, furniture and fixtures costs P1.25 million. Reason why average cost of a classroom in a two-storey building is more expensive is that the columns/foundations or architectural and engineering structure is different and needs to be stronger,” he said.

Umali also noted that 69 percent of the 9,301 classrooms under the PSIP are two-story structures, adding that only 31 percent are single stories.

“That’s why the average cost leans towards the more expensive cost. The average cost also includes toilets, furniture and fixtures. Hence, it is not equivalent to our present P650,000 cost per classroom. The stairs, ramp for CWD [children with disability], and value-added tax are also included in the average cost for two stories,” the Education official explained.