The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to distribute bamboo-made school furniture in public schools starting next month.

This is in line with Executive Order (EO) No. 879, series of 2010, which requires the agency to secure 20 percent bamboo allocation for school furniture.

In a statement on Monday, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the move will be historic, considering that the requirement has been enacted for 15 years.

“Matagal na ang itong polisiya. Pero, ngayon ay binibigyang-buhay natin ito (This has been an old policy. But now, we are making this a reality). For the first time in history, maipapatupad natin itong (we will be implementing this) mandatory 20 percent bamboo allocation in school furniture,” he said.

Angara said the use of climate-resilient and quality-engineered bamboo furniture will also benefit learners and teachers with its durability.

He said the agency’s actual procurement and target delivery adhere to the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to advance sustainability and support local industries.

“Magandang paraan din ito para ma-promote natin ang Tatak Pinoy na isinulong natin sa Senado noon para kilalanin ang creativity ng kapwa natin Pilipino (It’s also a good way to promote our Tatak Pinoy that we have advocated in the Senate before to recognize the creativity of fellow Filipinos),” Angara said.

The DepEd is set to distribute 144,081 sets of learners’ tables and chairs and 3,235 sets for teachers from February to March.

These sets will replace worn, shared, or unusable furniture that affects the daily activities of learners and teachers.

Meanwhile, the DepEd said construction of around 5,766 classrooms is currently underway, amounting to PHP16.2 billion under the For Issuance of Special Allotment Release Order Batch 1.

Of the said fund, PHP3.5 billion is allocated for the construction of 2,333 Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS) and PHP2 billion for another 1,333 LCS under the Disaster Preparedness and Response Program.

Angara said they aim to construct 800 Last Mile School classrooms, amounting to PHP3 billion, and another 1,300 classrooms with an approved program of works worth PHP3 billion.

School health facilities, likewise, will be constructed and improved with a PHP500 million allocation. (PNA)