ILOILO CITY — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here has approved the resolution endorsing the establishment of a full-fledged elementary school for children staying at the Iloilo City’s relocation site in Barangay San Isidro in Jaro District.
The SP endorsement was one of the requirements relative to House Bill 8045 filed by Iloilo City Rep. Jerry P. Treñas seeking to establish the Uswag San Isidro Elementary School from just being an extension campus of the Judith Lazarraga Tiongco Memorial School.
Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda, chair of the SP Committee on Education, said the establishment of “stand alone” school is necessary for it to be recognized by the Department of Education and be given national funds once its establishment is included in the proposed 2019 budget year.
“We are fast-tracking all the documents to be submitted before October so it will be included in the national government (appropriation),” she said.
The school presently depends on the budget that is given to the Judith Lazarraga Tiongco Memorial School. It only has 24 teachers with 842 students using only 14 classrooms.
San Isidro Village has a population of 18,000 with 3,505 belonging to 5 to 14 age group.
The Uswag Elementary School is situated inside the Uswag San Isidro Subdivision, a government-owned lot that caters to informal settlers who came from the city’s 36 barangays in Mandurriao and Jaro Districts affected by road widening projects.
“With the type of families in the community, they are considered as disadvantaged, unprivileged and need the upliftment in terms of education,” Baronda said.
She added that the school needs funds from the national government to “augment shortage in education facilities”.
During the deliberation, five members of the council registered opposition to the term “Uswag” a Hiligaynon term for progress because it is associated with Congressman Jerry P. Treñas, who is running for mayor in the 2019 elections.
“Naming an institution with political color and connotation is a different thing. We can maintain the San Isidro Elementary School,” Alim said.
Alim was joined by Councilors Plaridel Nava, R Leone Gerochi, Lyndon Acap, and Eduardo Peñaredondo in opposing the use of Uswag.
Baronda was joined by Councilors Jay Treñas, Ely Estante, Candice Magdalane Tupas, Liezl Zulueta-Salazar, Mandrei Malabor, SK Federation President Leila Luntao and Liga ng mga Barangay President Irene Ong in pushing for the said resolution. (Perla Lena/PNA)
