School Buildings to Rise in Ten Cebu Towns

Multi-storey high school buildings will be built in ten towns in Cebu Province this year, benefiting almost 4, 000 students.

Cebu Governor Hilario P. Davide III, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) President Roberto Aboitiz and Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Division Superintendent Arden Monisit recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the P110-million project.

Mayors of the recipient towns also signed the MOA witnessed by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board member Peter John Calderon and DepEd 7 Director Juliet Jeruta.

Daanbantayan’s Calape National High School (NHS), Sogod’s Mohon NHS, San Fernando’s Sangat NHS, Barili’s Mantalongon NHS, Marikaban Integrated High School (IHS) in Sta. Fe, and Bagalnga IHS in Compostela will each receive a two-storey building with six classrooms.

A three-storey, nine-classroom building will be built in San Remigio, Catmon and Carmen NHS while Madridejos NHS in Bantayan Island will receive a four-storey school building with 12 classrooms.

Davide thanked RAFI for its continuous support to the Province, especially in education development.

Emphasizing on education as one effective way of eradicating poverty, Davide said that “education creates opportunities for economic growth.”

He added that education keeps people and community healthy.

“Quality education requires quality classrooms, among others. Schools should be conducive to the learning of the students,” expressed Davide.

In this collaborative project, the Province shelled out P39 million as counterpart funding.

Local government units shall provide the logistical support while DepEd shall take care of the custody and maintenance of the completed school buildings.

RAFI Educational Development Unit Executive Director Anthony Dignadice said the classrooms, with an area of 7×9 meters, can accommodate up to 60 students.

Construction will start next month and turnover of the school buildings will happen at the end of the year, he added.

Looking forward to more partnerships with Cebu Province, Dignadice shared RAFI’s aim to construct more school buildings including technical vocational facilities.

“This is to help prepare for the implementation of the senior high school program starting school year 2016-2017 under the new K-12 curriculum of DepEd,” he said.

www.cebu.gov.ph