CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Governor Lilia “Nanay” G. Pineda urged the officials of the Department of Education-Region 3 (DepEd-3) to prioritize the construction of new classrooms in the province’s remote areas.
Pineda made the appeal during a committee hearing on education led by Board Member Arthur Salalila, attended by DepEd-3 and Department of Public Works and Highways-3 (DPWH-3) officials at the Executive House Wednesday.
“Unahan tala ngeni reng iskwela kareng malaut a barangay, lalo na karing coastal areas, (Let us prioritize the schools from far-flung barangays particularly in the coastal areas)” Pineda said.
Dr. Leandro Canlas, education supervisor for physical facilities, concurred with the governor’s request and recognized her concern for the Kapampangan students.
“Gov is doing her best to provide the needs of young students and we from the DepEd are here to reciprocate her efforts and support her cause,” Canlas said.
It was learned, DepEd regularly conducts site visits with respective division engineers to assess the schools’ need for additional facilities.
“Uling masipag ya, makatutuk ya, kailangan ming tuki kaya, (Because the governor is diligent, she is in focus, we are obliged to follow her),” said Canlas shared.
More classrooms in Pampanga
Engr. Ethel Manalo of the DPWH Central Monitoring also reported the accomplishments of the Classroom Projects for 2012, wherein the province received 66 classrooms worth P18,800,000.
For this year, the province was already given P142-million to finance the first batch of 124 classrooms alone.
Canlas said, Pampanga can expect more projects since their division is yet to receive the report from Central Office on the second batch of classrooms for this year.
Aside from this, the province is also a beneficiary of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and given 44 classrooms benefitting 11 schools in the province.
Under Pineda’s first term, the Capitol financed the construction of 505 educational facilities worth P277,947,000 benefitting 148 schools.
These include the construction of 155 new classrooms, rehabilitation of 267 classrooms, and the construction of 41 Male-Female Comfort Rooms and 17 multi-purpose covered courts.
Governor Pineda is also an awardee of the DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program in recognition of her efforts to provide more classrooms for the Kapampangan students.
By Angelique Tuazon
