Ideally, climate control is a “must” in all educational establishments, particularly in hot and humid countries like the Philippines, to give the learners a comfortable place while receiving their education. This is particularly true for public high schools. Climate control is necessary in all classrooms and other places where students congregate, like libraries, school-based clinics and even the cafeterias.
But in Philippine schools, that is only a dream!
Certainly, it’s not about lack of budget. For the record, the Philippine Department of Education in 2022 got a budget of 633.3 billion pesos; 710.6 billion in 2023; 924.7 billion in 2024 and a whooping 1.055 trillion for 2025. It’s about lack of leadership, political will and poor prioritization. And much more, a seemingly lack of concern for people at “the furthest end of the stick”.
Most often than not, Philippine public schools simply rely on mother nature’s breeze to cool off their rooms. This is because the buildings are traditionally constructed with little regards for climate control. There usually are no insulation between walls and the attic. No air conditioning is provided. They simply rely on windows and occasional electric fans if there are donors or if power is even available.
Such is the case at the Sto. Niño National High School at Iriga City, Camarines Sur!
The school with the help of the D4EVF established a provisional Wellness Center with a small medical room and a dental clinic to give the school health services providers a place to treat the students in need. The Foundation provided the dental equipment, instruments and dental supplies.
The Wellness Center was established at a little used classroom. Therefore, there is no air conditioning unit in the said room.
The school petitioned the Philippine Department of Education, to refurbish the room to improved it further. Schematic plans were submitted and later converted into architectural plans by the Iriga City Engineer’s office for the said project. To their surprise, someone at the Department of Education proposed that a whole new building be made instead, estimated to cost millions of pesos to construct. A simple refurbishment would have sufficed to bring the place up to standards! And, it would have cost much less!
The proposal was mind blowing! Why build a whole new building that will cost several millions instead of just providing a couple of millions to complete the refurbishment? On top of that, with the projected cost of a new building, funding delays associated with the processes to approve such big-ticket project will surely kick in delaying the construction for years.
It is simply illogical to needlessly spend public money! We think we know why, but that is for some other time to discuss!
With the said action, up until to date , no funds had been approved much less released except for a paltry amount to build a dedicated septic tank for the provisional Wellness Center. According to the DepEd as per the General Appropriations Act, only funds approved in 2024 are being released. So theoretically, if funds are approved for the whole new building in 2025, creating architectural plans and securing building permits for a new building plus construction time will drag the project to 2029. That is if no other political ploy comes into play!
Given the above, the school administration appealed to the D4EVF to provide an air conditioning unit for the Wellness Center. The request mentioned that the medical staff that mans the Wellness Center many times would forego the use of protective gowns (PPE) because it gets too hot inside the clinic.
“They sweat a lot particularly during the hot summer months. We have floor fans, but they still cannot keep the clinic comfortable”, said Jon Cabañes, the school faculty member in charge of the health and welfare of the students and staff. “But there is not much we can do as there is no budget to provide an air conditioner”, he added.
In response to the appeal, the D4EVF Board decided to provide a brand-new high performance “Carrier” 2HP Split Type air conditioning unit to provide comfort for the students and the staff. The unit was procured and installed August 19, 2025.
Hopefully, the new building will be funded. But that is just a shot in the dark. Given the political climate and the mind-boggling bureaucracy at the Department of Education, the school can only hope and wish!
The Dentistry for Every Village Foundation, Inc., raises funds by seeking grants and donations to build dental clinics. These clinics are donated to health care institutions that have the resources to house the facility, experiences and expertise to run them efficiently, and whose management is supportive of the cause.
