Friday, February 29, 2008 Arroyo inaugurates Sirawan school building By Grace L. Plata
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the groundbreaking for the construction of a two-storey four-classroom building in Sirawan Beach Elementary School, Sirawan, Toril -- a predominantly Muslim coastal barangay 30 minutes away from the city center.
Coming straight from the Davao International Airport Thurday morning, Arroyo was joined by Senator Edgardo Angara, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza, and Education Assistant Secretary Jesus Lorenzo Mateo.
The president was welcomed at DIA by Representatives Vincent Garcia and Isidro Ungab and Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz who represented Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The teachers and schoolchildren were garbed in their tribal attires as they welcomed the President. The visit took mere minutes before Arroyo sped off to a women's conference in Matina and then heading to check on the ongoing construction of Governor Generoso Bridge I. Arroyo did not deliver a speech at Sirawan but shook hands with the public and posed for pictures.
Sirawan Beach Elementary School has 403 students most of whom belong to the Kalagan tribe.
The construction for the new building will start on March 2 and is targeted for completion by June 2 in time for the new school year.
