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PGMA Ground Breaks new school buildings in Mandaluyong  - 8/27/2008
by: Lee A. Chan
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be in Mandaluyong City on Thursday, August 28, to lead the groundbreaking rites of two (2) school buildings funded through the initiative of Cong. Neptali M. Gonzales II. The Ilaya Barangka Elementary School (IBES) in Barangay Barangka Ilaya will commence construction of its additional 4-storey, 36-classroom academic building, finally replacing the very old buildings of the school. IBES was originally planned to construct a 3-storey, 30-classroom building only, but further evaluation of Cong. Gonzales necessitated the shift to a bigger building with more classrooms. At present, the school buildings of IBES are old and run-down having survived 37 long years of service since it was constructed in 1971. It was built in a manner that no open space was provided for physical education classes and other field activities for the students. Costing PhP80 million in total project cost, IBES will be funded initially with PhP5.5 million and the rest in additional funds will be sourced in the 2009 budget from the initiative of Gonzales under the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways. The decision to build a taller but more horizontally-compact building will not only improve the school facilities, it will also increase the level of safety and security of the children as well as improve their school performance. After IBES, Pres. Arroyo will then go straight to Dona Pilar Gonzaga Elementary School (DPGES) in Barangay Hagdan Bato Itaas to likewise lead in the groundbreaking of the construction of its 3-storey, 12-classroom Science Building. Cong. Gonzales revealed DPGES was selected by the DepEd as one of the three (3) elementary science schools in the national Capital Region last year. Given the special curriculum and requirements of such a school, the DPGES will need a Science Building that will house special facility rooms such as computers and laboratories. Costing PhP24 million, a total fund of PhP20 million was already released for the project. IBES and DPGES are among the priority projects of Gonzales for this year. The groundbreaking ceremonies of these two infrastructure projects with no less than President Arroyo and Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz as Guests of Honor are the highlights of the weeklong celebration of the birth anniversary of Cong. Gonzales on Friday, August 29. Gonzales said he is thankful that Pres. Arroyo takes time to be with him and his constituents especially in relation to his pro-peoplees projects. This is a great show of national support to our barangay undertakings here in Mandaluyong,, he says, I am very thankful for that.. It can be recalled that Pres. Arroyo also visited the city last February for the ground breaking of additional buildings of two other schools P. Cruz Elementary School and Eulogio Rodriguez Integrated School, funded through the initiatives of Cong. Gonzales. The visit is a clear manifestation of the governmentts support to the education sector of the local government. To date, these two schools are still under construction and will soon be completed. Another infrastructure project slated this week is the groundbreaking rites of the Harapin ang Bukas Barangay Hall and Multi-Purpose Hall on Friday. Other events in connection with Gonzaless birth anniversary celebration are the back-to-back concert of Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee for the youth at the RTU grounds on Friday, the free rice distribution to the cityys poor constituents on Saturday, and the Bingo Bonanza for the Green Ladies Movement on Sunday. (30)
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