Celso inaugurates P5.9 million Putik school building

Barely two days after unveiling two school buildings in the west coast amounting to almost P10 million, Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday hied off to Putik Elementary School to inaugurate another school facility initiated by the city government.
Costing P5.9 million, the two-storey 8 classroom facility brings the total number of classrooms in Putik Central School to 68 that will help ease the classroom-student ratio.

?We ado not get tired in putting so much attention and priority to the education sector?, the mayor said even if he stressed that it is the obligation of the Department of Education to provide the necessary school facilities, teachers and other requirements in public education.  ?The city has taken upon itself to take the lead (in implementing education related programs)?, Mayor Lobregat said as he turned over to the DEPED and later to the Putik Central School administration the newly-constructed building. Just last Tuesday, Lobregat inaugurated two school buildings?one at the Recodo Elementary School worth P5.7 million and one at the Ayala National High School worth P4.4 million. The new Recodo School building however will be initially utilized by students from the Recodo National High School, as school facilities for the secondary level are still on going construction. City-government initiated projects at the Putik Central School started 3 years ago with the major repair of a 2-storey 6 classroom building that was affected by a fire incident. The year after that the city turned over a 2-storey 8 classroom building and last year, the city constructed and consequently inaugurated a covered court. According to Mayor Lobregat, prior to the repair of the burnt 2-storey 6 classroom building, Putik Central School had only 48 classrooms but through the city-initiated projects, the number rose to 68 at present.  Due to lack of space, the chief executive however said the latest 2-storey 8 classroom building will be the last to be constructed in the Putik Central School campus. ?But at least, we were able to help solve the problem on student-classroom ratio?.More inauguration of school buildings will be set in the coming days, as construction of the facilities in various schools is now complete. These include the 2-storey 4 classroom building in Sinunuc; 2-storey 8 classroom in Maasin; 2-storey 8 classroom in Ayala Central School and a 2-storey 6 classroom building in Labuan?all in the west coast and newly constructed school buildings at the Culianan Learning Center, Bolong National High School and Maria Clara Lobregat National High School in Divisoria. In his message during the turn over ceremonies yesterday morning, the mayor also talked about another initiative of the city government, the Operation 10-Rs, that is presently benefiting public school students. The spirit of volunteerism of Operation 10-Rs is causing ripple effects, as other non-government organizations such as the Los Contratistas de Zamboanga and even the Consunji Group of Companies have donated and continue to donate chairs to public schools in the city. Operation 10-Rs is a city-initiated project that seeks to repair and recycle old and dilapidated chairs and desks from public schools. It is implemented in cooperation with other agencies and groups. Present during the turn over ceremony in Putik yesterday were Councilors Rey Candido, Eddie Rodriguez, Eddie Saavedra and Rudy Lim; City Schools Division Supt. Dr. Dolores Alcantara and her assistants Dr. Norma Vecina and Pedro Melchor Natividad; Putik barangay chairman Ignacio Romano, Putik District Supervisor Carmen Saculingan, Maybeline Ty of the Department of Education regional office, City Engineer Luis Despalo and General Parent-Teacher Community Association President Mrs. Siglos. ? Sheila Covarrubias

Via Zamboanga Times