Bulakan, Bulacan- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the groundbreaking of two units of 4-storey school buildings and presentation of another 4 school buildings at Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar Elementary School Compound in Barangay Sta. Ana, Pandi town on Thursday afternoon.
The President was assisted by his common-law wife Cielito “Honeylet” Avancena, DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones, DOST Sec. Fortunato Dela Pena, Former Special Assistant to the President Sec. Bong Go and Bulacan officials headed by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, First District Congressman Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, Bulakan Mayor Patrick Meneses and Pandi Mayor Tinoy Marquez, led the time capsule-laying for the Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar NHS where the unveiling and presentation of the miniature school building plan of Pandi NHS followed.
In his speech, Duterte pointed out education is the most valuable gift for the succeeding generations and that no Filipino youth should be denied access to education, whatever their circumstances in life.
“Once completed, these buildings will serve as a testament to our commitment to invest in the potential of our youth. These structures will promote their well-being, nurture their dreams, and become a breeding ground for future leaders of our country,” the President said.
He also addressed the sacrifices of the teachers in the country and said they are next to receive a salary increase.
“I am willing to strike a deal in the presence of Secretary Briones sa mga maestra. We can make an agreement or manifesto or choose whatever kind of document itself. Kayo ang isusunod ko this year,” President Duterte said.
Sec. Briones said the province of Bulacan was chosen to have these school buildings because of the historical significance of the province. Some of the Filipino heroes came from Bulacan.
She also bared DepEd’s plan to review the curriculum to include the life of the local heroes so that their lives will be known by the next generations.
The two units of 4-storey with 24 and 12 classroom buildings and a total of 60 classrooms will be built in a 6,676 square meters lot which expected to have over 2,300 enrollees up to Grade 12 after four years.
The Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar National High School buildings were allocated by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the implementing agency is the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office with a total budget of P156.4 million for the construction and the completion will be on November 2019.
The miniature model of Pandi National High School (Virginia Ramirez-Cruz High School Extension) to be built in Barangay Siling Bata in Pandi, Bulacan was also presented. The school extension will be located in a 19,296 square-meter area.
The school will have four units of 4-storey 20 classroom buildings. The P177 million buildings with a total of 80 classrooms are expected to be completed on October this year.
The new buildings will decongest the nearby secondary schools of overpopulation and excessive enrollment.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the President proceeded to the “Turnover of Housing Units for Wounded-In-Action (WIA) Soldiers and Wounded-In-Police Operation (WIPO) Under the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program and for LGU-CSJDM Beneficiaries within the Pleasant View Residences Package 3” held in Brgy. Graceville, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
The President, was welcomed by Senators Cynthia Villar and Joseph Victor Ejercito, National Defense Secretary Major Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process of the Philippines Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr., PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, NHA Gen. Manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr., Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, City Mayor Arthur Robes and Cong. Rida Robes. Duterte thanked the WIA and WIPO for their valor and love for the country. ELOISA SILVERIO