Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso bared plans to build a new 10-story campus for Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, Manila.
In a directional meeting with city government officials on Monday, Domagoso showed the rendered plan for the new campus, that will be fully air-conditioned, and will have various facilities such as an auditorium, a laboratory for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and a soccer field.
More glass windows in the building would also provide the school with better natural lighting.
The new campus will have a capacity of 9,000 students, teachers, and personnel, the Manila mayor said.
Domagoso, who is an alumnus of Rosauro Almario Elementary School, said it has retained its look and facilities since he graduated there decades ago.
He said he will not allow "unnecessary structures" such as covered basketball courts to be built on the new campus.
"Ang tendency kasi ng mga susunod na liderato, dudugtungan ng ganito... before you know it, pati eskuwelahan, mukhang pang-squatter, disoriented ang mga estudyante (The tendency is that other leaders will put up extensions to this building... before you know it, even schools look like squatters' areas, the students get disoriented)," he said.
The local chief executive also announced that they are planning to redevelop Manila Science High School in Ermita. Other schools in Districts 2, 3, 4, and 6 will be rehabilitated afterwards.
Domagoso said he will discuss with officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines to secure loans for this project.