By Manny Balbin/PNA
BULAKAN, Bulacan — President Rodrigo Duterte led on Thursday the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two units of four-storey school buildings in this town as part of his administration’s continuing effort to improve the quality of education in the country.
The President, together with his common-law wife Cielito Honeylet Avanceña, Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Bulacan officials headed by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, spearheaded the time capsule laying for the construction of the Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar National High School in Barangay Sta. Ana here.
The ceremony which was also witnessed by Rep. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, Bulakan Mayor Patrick Meneses and Pandi Mayor Tinoy Marquez was likewise highlighted by the unveiling and presentation of the maniature school building plan of Pandi National High School.
The two units of four-storey school buildings of the Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar National High School has a total of 60 classrooms to be built on a 6,676-square meter lot. It is expected to house over 2,300 students up to Grade 12 after four years.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated a PHP156.4-million budget for the construction of the said school buildings with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office as the implementing agency.
The project is expected to be completed in November 2019.
During the event, Secretary Briones led the presentation of Pandi National High School (Virginia Ramirez-Cruz High School Extension) miniature model to be built on a 19,296-square meter lot in Barangay Siling Bata in Pandi, this province.
The project has four units of four-storey school buildings with a total of 80 classrooms. Set to be completed in October this year, it has a budget of PHP177 million.
The establishment of said school buildings is seen to decongest the overpopulated nearby secondary schools.
“Ang eskwelahan na ito ay alay ko sa mga kabataan upang makapag-aral at matuto sa buhay (This school, I offer to the youth so they could study and learn in life),” President Duterte said.
“Ako ay lumaking salat sa kabuhayan pero nagsikap akong makatapos ng pag-aaral kahit na walang award na natanggap (I grew up lacking in life but I strove to finish my studies even if I didn’t receive any award),” he added.
After the event, the President proceeded to Barangay Graceville in the City of San Jose Del Monte where he led the turnover of housing units for wounded-in-action soldiers and wounded-in-operation police personnel under the comprehensive social benefits program for law enforcers.
