Education chief unveils P22.3-M project

CLASSROOM shortage at the Zamboanga City High School (ZCHS)-main is partially eased with the inauguration and turnover on Sunday of the P22.3-million three-storey 27-classroom building constructed and funded by the local government.

The unveiling ceremony was made even more special with the presence of Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro who flew all the way from Manila on a Sunday to accept the project from Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Luistro thanked Lobregat and the members of the City Council through vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde for putting highest priority on education through the construction of school buildings and other education-related projects.

The three-storey 27-classroom building is the biggest and tallest school building yet constructed and turned over to a public school by the City Government since the massive school building program started in 2007.

Luistro could not help but compare the manner that the City Government projects are undertaken as well as the manner the projects are turned over to other areas.

Luistro said that building classrooms is not just about having money “but it’s about vision, transparency and dignity.”

He said that the City Government under Lobregat has the vision to give a better future for the young generation.

He said that this is the reason why the people of Zamboanga City are supportive of the programs of the City Government, as all these are intended to put education back to its feet.

“Mayor Lobregat is the only mayor who places the cost of every project being undertaken,” he added.

He also said that by being transparent, the people are informed and can keep track of government funds.

Lobregat thanked Luistro for keeping his commitment to be present during the inauguration of the three-storey 27-classroom.

Lobregat vowed that the City Government will continue to invest in education to help ensure that the students get quality education.

He requested Luistro to also provide the necessary teachers and desks to complement the schools buildings being constructed by the City Government.

“What good are our classrooms without teachers and desks?” he said.

Since 2007 to present, the City Government has already invested over P940 million in education and that amount will reach the P1-billion mark in 2013, he said.

The ZCHS-main faculty and staff, headed by Principal Felisa Munar, presented Lobregat with a plaque and a certificate expressing highest regard on the chief executive for his unfaltering commitment to education.