Capitol spends P260 million in education

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Government has spent some P260 million for the education of students in Pampanga, particularly in the construction of school structures and facilities, and scholarship grants.

Governor Lilia Pineda, during her first 30 months in office, implemented the construction of at least 183 classrooms with appropriate comfort rooms and six covered courts amounting to P179,242,962.

The initiative was recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) wherein the Provincial Government was previously conferred with Adopt-A-School Program Award. 

Pineda said education is another top priority of her administration, because she believes sustainable growth and development will only be achieved when the people are educated or at least given access to free education.

The Provincial Government also partnered with the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) for an intensive delivery of scholarship grants to qualified students. 

It has funded the construction of the DHVTSU Sto. Tomas satellite campus wherein some P22 million was spent by the Capitol for the renovation of the Department of Health's abandoned building in Barangay Moras Dela Paz. 

Pineda also supported the construction of a P12-million two-storey building for DHVTSU's satellite campus in Porac town.

The Philippine State College of Aeronautics (Philsca) in Floridablanca town got some P25 million from the current administration for its building improvements to further strengthen the school's capability in providing quality education. 

From 2010 to 2012, the Provincial Government distributed around P14-million worth of scholarship grants and financial assistance to some students under the Provincial Government’s Educational Fund Assistance Program (Efap).

Each of the scholars received P5,000 per semester or a total of P10,000 for one school year except for the VisualCom beneficiaries who received P5,000 educational assistance  for one semester only.

The Provincial Board at the same time passed an ordinance providing scholarship for the students who graduated valedictorian, salutatorian and first honorable mention.