The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to award the P16.5-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) in August.
The project involves the construction of over 9,300 classrooms in several regions in the Philippines. It is expected to help the government in the achievement of zero backlog in classrooms by next year.
In a statement, DepEd chief Armin Luistro said the PSIP could start within this year if it gets awarded next month.
Six firms were prequalified to bid for the PSIP, but of the said number, only the BF Corporation-Riverbanks Development Corporation consortium and Citicore Holdings Investment, Inc.-Megawide Construction Corp., Inc. were able to submit their technical and financial proposals for the project.
Both firms constructed a two-storey, four-classroom mockup in Sta. Isabel Elementary School and in Malolos Marine National High School as part of their technical proposals.
The mockups were inspected by some representatives from DepEd, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Labor and Employment's Occupational Health and Safety Center, and the Ernst and Young consortium.
The P16.5-billion PSIP that will be awarded next month is just the first phase of the project, according to DepEd undersecretary for finance and administration Francis Varela. Another bidding for another 10,000 classrooms will be conducted within this year, he disclosed.