THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said that they were able to release some one billion pesos in order to bankroll the Department of Education’s (DepEd) conservation and restoration efforts.

The huge chunk of the funds will be for the heritage school buildings.

According to the DBM, the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) which amounts to P1.134 billion for the Conservation and Restoration of Gabaldon School Buildings and other Heritage School Buildings.

In her statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman had approved the release of SARO on March 1, 2024.

The DBM noted that they released the amount so as to benefit 654 classrooms in 83 sites nationwide.

Gabaldon School Buildings, also known as Gabaldons, are heritage school buildings in the Philippines constructed during the colonial period of the United States.

The said architecture of Gabadon School Buildings actually draws inspiration from traditional “bahay kubo” and “bahay na bato” designs.

“Let us restore and preserve the dignified spaces of our Gabaldon School Buildings and other heritage structures. Whether nestled in bustling cities or remote provinces, these historic edifices hold the promise of progress. Together, we forge a path toward a renewed Philippines, leaving no one behind as espoused by President Bongbong Marcos' vision of a Bagong Pilipinas,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.