Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools

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The project aims to address physical recovery needs of disaster-affected schools between 2019 and 2023 in accordance with the country’s up to date multihazard resilient design provisions, by strategically integrating vulnerability reduction measures into the project engineering design. Vulnerability reduction measures will enhance the performance against future climate and geological hazard events in line with the build back better approach. Four main lines of intervention are defined for the recovery of damaged school buildings: repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, and reconstruction. Interventions supported by the project will be integrated at the school level. The proposed Project comprises the following four components:Component 1: Relatively Simple Works for School Infrastructure Recovery and O&M (US$175.4 million). This component will finance investments for the repair and rehabilitation of selected school facilities for Relatively Simple Works, pilot reconstruction, and furniture as well as strengthening procedures and tools for O&M of recovered school facilities. DepEd will be the implementing agency. Subcomponent 1.1: Detailed Architectural and Engineering Designs (DAEDs) and O&M Procedures (US$19.8 million). This subcomponent will finance architectural and engineering studies and designs required for repair and rehabilitation of selected school buildings and for enhancing school infrastructure O&M manuals and tools. Specifically, it will include consultancy services for: (i) detailed damage and multihazard vulnerability assessments at school building level; (ii) geotechnical and other site investigations; (iii) architectural and engineering design of repair and rehabilitation interventions and pilot reconstruction, including functional improvements to enhance physical learning environment and reduce the risks from extreme heat; (iv) engineering oversight of construction works; and (v) upgrade of school infrastructure O&M manuals and tools (enhanced school infrastructure information platform, enhanced postdisaster damage assessment procedures, and Program of Works (POW) preparation procedures, service continuity plans) and training for involved units at the central, regional, and school division level.Subcomponent 1.2: Repair, Rehabilitation, and Pilot Reconstruction Works (US$155.6 million). This subcomponent will finance civil works for repair, rehabilitation, and pilot reconstruction of school buildings in selected schools for Relatively Simple Works, including site and functional improvements, and acquisition of classroom furniture for only reconstructed school buildings under both Components 1 and 2. Activities under this component will not lead to any increase in energy use. Approximately 538 schools are planned for repair and rehabilitation. Pilot reconstruction by DepEd will include around 180 schools. Furniture is needed for an estimated 4,354 new classrooms in 1,515 reconstructed school buildings under Components 1 and 2. Functional improvements are interventions at the school level related to improvement of gender-inclusive WASH facilities including menstrual hygiene management (MHM) reported in bad condition, and the application of universal access design to respond to needs of learners with disabilities, as well as the improvement of other school areas if needed. Other climate related interventions include (i) the provision of solar panels for schools without power, the installation of LED lighting, and (ii) applying high-reflectivity materials or paint to minimize heat absorption. Annex 4 maps their geographical distribution. Component 2: Relatively Complex Works for School Infrastructure Recovery (US$360.2 million). This component will finance investments for repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, and reconstruction of selected school facilities for Relatively Complex Works. DPWH will be the implementing agency. Subcomponent 2.1: Detailed Architectural and Engineering Designs (DAEDs) (US$47 million). This subcomponent will finance architectural and engineering studies and designs required for the repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, and reconstruction of selected school buildings for complex works. Specifically, it will include consultancy services for: (i) detailed damage and multihazard vulnerability assessments at the school building level; (ii) geotechnical and other site investigations; (iii) architectural and engineering design of either repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, or reconstruction, including functional improvements to enhance the physical learning environment and reduce the risks from extreme heat; (iv) design of site improvements that will minimize impact of typhoons, floods and landslides; and (v) engineering oversight of construction works.Subcomponent 2.2: Repair, Rehabilitation, Retrofitting, and Reconstruction Works (US$313.2 million). This subcomponent will finance civil works for repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, and reconstruction of school buildings in selected school facilities for Relatively Complex Works, including site and functional improvements like the improvement of gender-inclusive WASH facilities including menstrual hygiene management (MHM), the application of universal access design to respond to needs of learners with disabilities and the improvement of other school areas if needed. Moreover, climate related design features for all the interventions will include (i) the provision of solar panels for schools without power, and (ii) the installation of LED lighting. For reconstructed buildings, other climate-adaptation measures will include the use of (iii) high-reflectivity materials or paint to minimize heat absorption, (iv) rainwater harvesting system where needed to ensure the building’s functionality in light of climate risks, and (v) thermal comfort aspects such as enhancing natural ventilation, incorporating elements to reduce solar gain, and optimal building positioning wherever possible. Approximately 564 school facilities, including 2,768 buildings, are planned for Relatively Complex Works, of which an estimated 693 and 1,242 school buildings require retrofitting and reconstruction, respectively. The other 833 school buildings will require either repair or rehabilitation. Standard designs will be used for reconstruction of school buildings. DepEd and DPWH will review and revise the current school building standard designs to enhance resilience, inclusiveness, green, health, and teaching/learning conducive physical learning environment considerations. For overcrowded schools selected for reconstruction, the project will finance construction of 547 additional classrooms in 510 school buildings.Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation (US$20 million). This component will support establishment and operation of DepEd’s and DPWH’s Project Management Offices (PMOs), including through provision of technical assistance, incremental operating costs, and training as follows. Subcomponent 3.1: DepEd Project Management and Subcomponent 3.2: DPWH Project Management (US$20 million). These subcomponents will support establishment and operation of DepEd’s PMO and DPWH’s PMO, including through provision of technical assistance and Incremental Operating Costs and Training to support, inter alia: (i) project management; (ii) monitoring and evaluation (M&E); (iii) financial management (FM); (iv) procurement; (v) environmental and social (E&S) risk management; (vi) design and implementation of project communication campaigns; (vii) design and implementation of the project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM); (viii) studies and evaluations associated with the project; and (ix) public consultations, citizen engagement, and social awareness.Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component–CERC (zero allocation). Under this component, the CERC will allow the GOP to quickly access project funds to respond to an eligible crisis or emergency. It will allow rapid realloca