BAGUIO CITY – Four school buildings with eight classrooms each have been donated by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. (FFCCII) in its ‘Operation Barrio Schools’ project in La Trinidad, Benguet and Baguio City.
First to receive a building-two classroom was Tacdian Elementary School, in Barangay Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet.
The classroom was inaugurated by FFCCII representatives led by Mary Go Ng, executive vice president; William Castro, vice president; Robert Ang, welfare co-chairman and Lily Lim, media committee vice chairman.
The inauguration was also attended by the Baguio Filipino–Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (BFCCCI) led by President Peter Ng.
The said school building was donated by Wan Zhen David and Anchor Land Holdings Corporation as benefactors who signed the deed of donations which was accepted by Rosalina Laureta, the school principal.
The teachers and some students of Lamut Elementary School in Barangay Beckel, La Trinidad, happily welcomed the delegates during the inauguration of the two classrooms they requested from the federation.
After the ribbon-cutting, program and signing of the deed of donation, the school building donated by Mary Go Ng, the school was accepted by Emerson Hadsan, the school principal, with Cesar Luma-ang of the Department of Education-Benguet witnessing the occasion.
Mary Ng said Operation Barrio Schools is a legacy project and social responsibility from the 61 years of the establishment of the federation.
"Education is important to us for the future of the youth. We know that every year the number of students is increasing and the classroom is lacking, so this is our priority project and our target is in the barrios," said Ng.
To date, the federation has built over 13,000 classrooms across the country.
Of that number, the federation with the help of the Baguio Chapter has already built 15 school buildings with 2 classroom each in Baguio City, and 10 school buildings with two classrooms each in Benguet.
Peter Ng, on the other hand, expressed that today is a very good day for everyone because they were given the privilege to show these classrooms that were completed last year.
According to him, these classrooms show a collective commitment to helping the community and through this opportunity of sharing, are able to foster closer and stronger ties between the Filipino and Chinese communities.
“This is an institutional project of the federation. The main goal of cooperation with our national and local government in the development of the country. And we all achieve this as we contribute to the development of education through various scholarship grants and through the construction of school buildings programs in rural communities," said Peter Ng.
According to Luma-ang, DepEd is very grateful for the federation's continuous dedication to help the community, especially in the construction of school buildings in different areas.
The inauguration of the two school buildings with four classrooms at Loakan Elementary School and Lucban ES in Baguio City were delayed due to the magnitude-7 earthquake which suspended government and private classes and activities.