Once again proving his commitment to raising the quality of education as well as peace and order in the city, Mayor Celso Lobregat and Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde yesterday led the inauguration of a covered court at Talon-Talon National High School and a Community Police Action Center (COMPAC) in the same barangay.

The covered court costs P2.495 million while the COMPAC located near the barangay hall complex costs P1.2 million.

Talon-Talon National High School is proof of our administration’s commitment to education,” Lobregat said, citing the city’s various projects (both completed and ongoing) implemented merely five years after the school’s inception.

In her welcome message, TTNHS principal Ma. Arlindela Ramirez expressed her gratitude to the city government, especially Mayor Lobregat, who made the projects possible through his vision and efforts. “Words are insufficient to thank Mayor Lobregat,” the principal said.

TTNHS first opened its doors in 2006 with one two-storey, six-classroom school building to house 312 students, 6 teachers (all hired under the Local School Board) and a principal. It was established purposely to cater to high school students from the barangay and neighboring areas as well as to decongest the Zamboanga City High School-Main.

Since then, another 2-storey, 6-classroom building and one 2-storey, 8-classroom building has been constructed to accommodate the school’s population which has now ballooned into 1,600.

Even as construction of two more school buildings (both 2-storey, 8-classroom units) is underway, Mayor Lobregat already announced his intention to build another school building in the campus.

City Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Natividad, for his part, urged TTNHS teachers to reciprocate the commitment of the city government by ensuring the high performance of their students in the national achievement tests.

“The best proof of quality and accessible education is the performance of the students,” Lobregat added.

Aside from the covered court, the mayor also turned over the newly-constructed Community Police Action Center to the barangay with the hope of helping resolve the peace and order situation in Talon-Talon and surrounding areas.

Lobregat urged both the school and the barangay council to maximize the use of the buildings and told barangay officials to solicit the help of their constituents in ensuring the buildings are taken care of.

The turnover ceremonies were witnessed by Councilors Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Lilia Nuno, Eddie Saavedra, Mike Alavar and VP Elago; Talon-Talon Barangay Council headed by Chairman Munib Yusup, City Police OIC Director Col. Edwin de Ocampo, Task Force Zamboanga Chief Col. Buenaventura Pascual, Major Felix Martinez, Jomar Lobregatm-the mayor’s younger brother and Executive Assistants Mario Roca and Amilpasa Bandaying.