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The implementation of a World Bank loan aimed at repairing and rehabilitating disaster-damaged schools in nine regions outside Metro Manila is off to a good start, the Washington-based multilateral lender said.
In a July 31 implementation status and results report, the World Bank said the overall implementation progress of the Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools project has been “satisfactory” so far.
This was despite zero disbursements to date from the $500-million loan that the World Bank approved in June 2024. This investment project financing (IPF) took effect in February this year.
The Philippine government, meanwhile, is shelling out $55.6 million, or over ₱3 billion, as counterpart financing, according to the World Bank’s website.
This project is being jointly implemented by the departments of Education (DepEd) and of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The project consists of three components focused on school infrastructure recovery as well as operations and management (O&M).
The first component involves the DepEd conducting a pre-qualification survey from July to October 2025 to validate schools eligible for simple repairs, with design and supervision handled by Schools Division Offices’ (SDO) engineers.
The second component covers more complex repairs, with preparatory work and joint validation ongoing.
The third component, meanwhile, ensures oversight through dedicated project management offices (PMOs) within the DepEd and the DPWH, with clear role delineation to prevent overlap.
The project will focus on the following regions where school infrastructure damage and risks are the greatest: Bicol, Caraga, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, Davao Region, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Western Visayas.
The IPF will be implemented until end-2029.
As Manila Bulletin reported earlier, the Philippines shall repay principal for this loan from 2035 to 2052, based on the loan agreement signed by Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto on behalf of the Philippine government in November last year.
