THE Angeles City government is set to construct an additional 25 classrooms worth P209 million at the City College of Angeles (CCA).
Mayor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr., led the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new classrooms on November 17, along with Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, CCA Officer-in-Charge President Dr. Frankie Villanueva, and Development Bank of the Philippines Executive Vice President Jose Gabino Dimayuga.
Part of the P209-million fund will also be used for the construction of additional comfort rooms, canteen, pathways, offices, and laboratories.
Lazatin said the initiative aims to accommodate more Angeleño students at the city college with additional classrooms, courses, and teachers, addressing this year’s backlog with the reflux of students.
To date, there are a total of 4,400 scholars at the CCA, a 50 percent growth compared to 2020, with just 3,000 enrolled students.
“Napakarami pa po ang gustong mag-enroll. Kaya hindi po tayo tumigil na humanap ng paraan upang lalong dumami ang kurso, classrooms, at guro,” Lazatin said.
“From the 4,500 students applying at the city college this year, 2,700 lang po ang na-accommodate natin for the entrance exam at 1,900 lamang po ang nakapag-enroll,” he shared.
To recall, last June 28, 2021, Mayor Lazatin also led the groundbreaking ceremony of the additional 20 classrooms at the CCA, using the P50-million donation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
“We asked the help of the PAGCOR at lubos po tayong nagpapasalamat for their trust and confidence on our leadership and for supporting us to pursue our dream that no Angeleño student will be left behind," he said.
Lazatin also recognized the support of his fellow officials in pushing for the budget of this project, who were also present during the ceremony Vice Mayor Vega-Cabigting, Councilors Atty. Arvin Suller, Danilo Lacson, Alfie Joseph Bonifacio, Jay Sangil, JC Parker-Aguas, PG Ponce, Niknok Bañola, Raco Del Rosario, Jeremias Alejandrino, and Arnoah Mandani.
Just like his father, former Angeles City Mayor and First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, who allocated the largest fund of P6 million for the city’s scholarship program in 2002, Lazatin vows to continue to provide programs that will uplift the quality of education with his brother First District Congressman Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II.
Also in attendance during the groundbreaking ceremony were Clark International Airport Corporation Vice President for Operations IC Calaguas, also Lazatin’s Chief Adviser; Executive Assistant V Raffy Angeles; Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel; city hall department heads and chief of offices.