Mayor Francis Zamora on Thursday, June 11, highlighted San Juan City’s efforts in education and student welfare during President Marcos Jr.’s visit to Pinaglabanan Elementary School, where a demonstration of tablets provided to 13,000 public school students was held.

The local government distributed 13,000 tablets to public school students across the city to support digital learning and to provide learners with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed.

During the President's visit, a series of education-focused activities were held with Zamora, Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Special Assistant to the Mayor Rocco Zamora, Congresswoman Bel Zamora, Vice Mayor Angelo Agcaoili, and other local government officials.

The President inspected a demonstration showcasing the use of distributed tablets, observing how the devices are being utilized to enhance learning and expand access to digital education for learners in the city.

The local government also showed that all classrooms in public schools across the city are equipped with fiber optic internet connections and 55-inch Smart TVs. It added that the homes of all public school students are provided with fiber optic internet access.

Afterward, Marcos led the ceremonial distribution of school bags and supplies to K–12 public school students, reaffirming the national government’s commitment to support Filipino learners through improved access to educational resources and technology.

The President then met with the city's 105 Presidential Scholars, each of whom will receive P20,000 in educational assistance from the national government for tuition and other school expenses. The scholars expressed their gratitude for the support as they pursue their studies.

In his remarks, Marcos emphasized the importance of continuously improving the country’s education system.

“Kailangan talaga na ang edukasyon ay pagandahin natin para sa ating mga kabataan. Tinutugunan natin, binibigyan natin ng diin na pagandahin ang educational system (We really need to improve education for our youth. We are addressing this and placing emphasis on improving the educational system),” he said.

Aside from internet connectivity in classrooms and homes, Zamora also underscored the city's various educational programs, including free school and PE uniforms, free customized Makabagong San Juan rubber shoes, free emergency go bags, maple wood basketball courts in schools and barangays, educational assistance, incentives for honor students, graduates, and movers, and support programs for teachers, including one-to-one laptops and financial assistance.

“These efforts have helped pave the way for San Juan to be recognized as number 1, amongst all highly urbanized cities in the Philippines in functional literacy rate by the Philippine Statistics Authority with a rating of 95 percent,” Zamora said.

“Again, Mr. President, ganito po tayo sa ating Makabagong San Juan. Sinasabi ko pong tayo, sapagkat kayo rin po ay isang San Juaneño (This is how we do things in San Juan. I say ‘we’ because you are also a San Juaneño),” he added.

The mayor also thanked President Marcos for the educational assistance extended to San Juan’s students and scholars.

He also expressed gratitude in advance for the funds that will be downloaded to San Juan through the National Classroom Building Program of the Bagong Pilipinas Administration, noting that these will be used properly to build more school buildings and classrooms in the city.