Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan assured all students in the city of a quality education by providing them with new and modern schools, as she led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new six-storey school building at Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School in Tondo, Manila, on Thursday, June 6.
Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School is the third school under the administration of Lacuna-Pangan to begin construction, which will be completed in more or less a year.
It has a 9,273-square-meter floor area with a total of 49 classrooms, an e-room, a laboratory, a library, an auditorium, and a conference room.
It will also have four elevator units, several restrooms, a faculty room, offices, a canteen, and a roof deck area.
The mayor said that the new school would provide its students with a place that is more useful and convenient for learning.
"Bahagi ito ng ating prayoridad sa paglilingkod bilang inyong punong lungsod at itinuturing na ina ng mga Batang Maynila. Nais nating maging kumportable ang ating mga mag-aaral gayundin ang mga kaguruan sa mga panahon na narito sila sa loob ng paaralan (This is part of the city’s priority to serve you all as your mayor and considered as the Manileños’ mother. We want our students as well as teachers to feel comfortable during their time at school)," Lacuna-Pangan said.
"Siyempre, nais din natin itong magsilbing inspirasyon sa ating mga Batang Manilenyo upang sipagin pang lalo na pumasok sa paaralan, mag-aral upang palaguin ang kanilang kaalaman at kasanayan. Ito ay regalo natin para sa mga taga Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School at sa lahat pang mga batang Tondo na gagawi at mag-aaral dito (Of course, we also want this to serve as an inspiration to our students to work harder to go to school and to study more to enhance their knowledge and skills. This is our gift to the students of Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School and to all the youths of Tondo who will study here in the future)," she added.
The mayor further assured that the city government, under her leadership, will never stop using all means to ensure that the standard of education being offered in Manila will be continuously raised to better provide its students with the capability to improve their status in life.
The mayor also hoped that through the project, the teaching personnel would be inspired more to fulfill their duties, not only as mentors but also as second parents to the students they teach.
She cited teachers as the ones who are largely responsible for equipping the students with knowledge, instilling discipline in them, and molding their character to become better citizens.
Also present at the ceremony were Vice Mayor Yul Servo, City Engineer Armand Andres, First District Congressman Ernix Dionisio, City Electrician Randy Sadac, City Architect Pepito Balmoris, Division of Schools Superintendent Rita Riddle, Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School Principal Marcelo Mislang, first district councilors, and other city officials.