Mayor Celso Lobregat remains ever-aggressive in his commitment to support and assist the education sector, as he unveiled yet another project yesterday, this time, a rehabilitated 2-storey 12 classroom building at the Baliwasan Central Elementary School.

Costing P2.5 million, the building serves as the school’s special education center where fast learners, slow learners and special children hold classes.

Mayor Lobregat, accompanied by Councilor Luis Biel III during the turn over, reiterated his commitment to undertake massive school building program and other education-related projects with the end in view of improving the quality of education in this part of the country.

A new 2-storey 12 classroom building is estimated to cost P11-12 million but this rehabilitated building looks like new but only worth P2.5 million, the mayor said.

While it is the responsibility of the national government to finance public education system, the city government is taking the cudgels of providing the needs of public elementary and secondary schools in the city to ensure a better future for the youths.

“If we wait for the Department of Education (DEPED) to provide the funds for school buildings, we will wait forever”, the mayor said stressing that the city’s investment in education has reached over P600 million in a span of only 3 years.

City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dolores Alcantara and Baliwasan Central School Principal Rosalio Conturno conveyed their gratitude to the mayor and the city government in their individual messages.

Both education officials expressed belief that the school buildings and other education-related programs implemented by the city government under the Lobregat administration will have lasting effects on the school children.

Dr. Alcantara emphasized that the city government’s education program is a stand out feat among all the local government units not only in the region but in the entire country.

Baliwasan Central School is a recipient of numerous education related projects from the Lobregat administration since 2007.

Just last Monday, the mayor also turned over some P1.2 million worth of projects intended for the Sinunuc Elementary School consisting of the rehabilitated Home Economics building and a drainage system. 

From Sinunuc, the mayor proceeded to Maasin to also turn over some P5 million worth of projects that consisted of a covered court, comfort rooms, road concreting projects, drainage systems and a waiting shed facility. (Sheila Covarrubias)