As face-to-face classes return in the new normal, the Pasig City local government is ramping up its efforts to renovate the public school buildings in the city, as well as construct more school infrastructure to cater to more learners.
“In the coming months, the repairs, renovations and maintenance or improvements in school buildings will be a priority,” said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto during the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Feb. 13.
“This time around, sisiguraduhin natin, sa tulong ng ating Engineering Department and Education Unit, na maging maayos at walang substandard sa mga pinapagawa natin (This time around, we will ensure, with the help of our Engineering Department and Education Unit, that no substandard buildings will be made and all will follow proper procedures),” he added.
A monitoring team will be created and assigned to oversee the construction of the school buildings and ensure it is being made in the highest quality.
“‘Yung maganda tingnan 'yung building pero sa totoo faulty ang electrical system, hindi na po mauulit. Let’s learn from our past mistakes (We will not repeat cases wherein the building is aesthetically beautiful but has a faulty electrical system. Let’s learn from our past mistakes),” Sotto said.
Construction of the new school buildings in the acquired lots by the local government in Barangays Nagpayong and Pinagbuhatan are underway.
Last October 2022, the local government signed Deeds of Sale for two pieces of land – a 25,825 square meter lot in Nagpayong worth P142 million, and a 3,352 square meter lot in Pinagbuhatan Proper worth P60 million.
Sotto said he is still waiting on the final recommendations for the exact kind of infrastructure (whether they will be new elementary or high school buildings and annexes) that will be constructed in those areas.
With the cooperation of all stakeholders involved, the local government hopes to have the new buildings ready for use by the school year 2024 to 2025.
For school year 2023 to 2024, the local government will also restart their distribution rollout of school supplies for public school students, which was cancelled for two years due to the pandemic.
The mayor said new initial designs for their improved school supplies have been presented to him. Designs for the soon-to-be released rubber shoes, in particular, were highlighted by Sotto.
Pasig School Divisions Office (SDO) Superintendent Evalou Agustin also announced during the flag raising ceremony that over P1.5 billion was approved for the supplemental Special Education Fund (SEF) for 2023.