THE Iloilo City Council has passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to negotiate a bank loan worth P360 million to fund the construction of eight school buildings for next school year.
Councilor Jason Gonzales, chairman of the committee on education, said each school building will have 20 classrooms that will be used by more than 11,000 senior high school students.
Gonzales said Mabilog's request letter dated October 16, 2015 was addressed to the City Council in relation to the provisions of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Clarissa Zamora has asked Mabilog's assistance to construct nine public high schools amounting to P540 million.
The schools are Bo. Obrero National High School, Buntatala National High School, Mandurriao National High School, A. Bonifacio Elementary School, TCT-AR Foundation Int. School, Fort San Pedro National High School, Iloilo City National High School, Jaro National High School, and Jalandoni Memorial National High.
Zamora earlier revealed that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) will fund the construction of three units of four-storey buildings with 20 classrooms each with funds to be coursed through the office of city lone district congressman Jerry P. Treñas.
The schools are the Jaro National High School, Iloilo City National High School and Jalandoni Memorial National High School which will get one unit of school building each.
Gonzales said the City Council's authority to negotiate with the bank is the first step and will be followed by another authority to contract.