Santiago lauds Fil-Chi groups for support to CSF

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Vice Mayor and Rotarian Edwin Santiago has lauded the support of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) and the San Fernando Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (SFFCCII) for their continuing support to the education sector here through their “Barrio Schools” project.

The group recently donated three two-classroom buildings amounting to P2.5 million. Another two-classroom building facility was donated for Barangay Cut-Cut I in Capas, Tarlac.

SFFCCII president Eddie Chua said their group was able to accomplish the construction of school buildings in San Jose Panlumacan, San Juan and Sta. Lucia Elementary Schools here. They were accompanied by Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago, who represented Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, during the turnover rites.

Santiago lauded the groups for their commitment in bringing more school buildings to public elementary schools here.

He said this initiative will greatly help in the development and uplifting of the quality of education in the city through the “Barrio Schools” program.

“The ‘Barrio Schools’ project is the longest running and biggest private sector-led development program focused on educational infrastructure in the country. Since the project started in the 1960s, almost 8,000 classroom buildings have been constructed all over the country,” Santiago said.

These school buildings are constructed out of donations from the officers and members of the Federation and from benevolent organizations, families and individuals within the Filipino-Chinese communities, Santiago said.

Santiago said he will continue partnership agreements with the Filipino-Chinese community and discuss other possible areas of cooperation in the coming months.

He added that there is a need to work closely with non-government groups operating in the city to streamline support systems and services to avoid redundancy of programs. (Ian Ocampo Flora)