President Rodrigo Roa Duterte successfully inaugurated a total of seven school buildings with 140 classrooms at two Bulacan towns recently.
The President led the inauguration of new school buildings in Gregorio H. Del Pilar Integrated School in Sta. Ana, Bulakan, Bulacan, composed of two units of four-storey buildings with 24 classrooms, and one four-storey unit of 12 classrooms.
The other inauguration was held virtually, which was led by the President via livestreaming. He led the unveiling of the marker for the four units of four-storey 20-classroom school buildings in Virginia Ramirez-Cruz High School in Siling Bata, Pandi, Bulacan.
During the ceremonial unveiling of the marker at Gen. Gregorio H. Del Pilar Integrated School, the President was assisted by his common-law wife Cielito “Honeylet” Avancena, together with Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Bulacan officials headed by Governor Daniel Fernando, Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses and Department of Education (DepEd) Region 3 Director May Eclar.
At Virginia Ramirez-Cruz High School in Pandi, on the other hand, the simultaneous unveiling was led by Mayor Enrico Roque and Public School District Supervisor Teresita Alquiza.
“Your collective efforts (DepEd and DPWH) in this project has been crucial in creating a more conducive, inclusive and resident learning environment for students of Bulacan. Our investment in education, infrastructure affirms our continuing commitment to promote the right of the people to quality and accessible education at all levels,” Duterte said.
The president assured that the government is exerting all efforts to go full throttle in its COVID-19 vaccination program to ensure the safety of the students before the resumption of face-to-face learning.
“I truly appreciate the patience and understanding of the learners, the parents and teachers in your locality. We are hopeful that these newly-built classrooms will provide a more conducive learning environment even as we cope with the new normal,” the President added.
The said school buildings are expected to address classroom backlogs and to decongest nearby secondary schools of overpopulation once face-to-face classes resume.
“Kami po sa lalawigan ng Bulacan ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong mapanagutang liderato. Ang pagbubukas ng mga paaralang ito ay mensahe ng pag-asa para sa mga kabataang mag-aaral at ito ay patunay na narito ang pamahalaan [na] handang manguna at makaagapay sa oras ng pagbangon ngayong pandemiya,” Gov. Fernando said.
The governor also pointed out that education is indeed the most valuable gift to leave behind for the succeeding generations and that no Filipino youth should ever be denied access to high quality education, whatever circumstances they may be in.
These school buildings were allocated by the DepEd and the implementing agency, which is the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office.