Gatchalian checks on Cebu’s education state post-Odette

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian representing Senator Win Gatchalian in Cebu.

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian is concerned about the state of education of Cebu post-Odette.

This was what his brother, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said during his visit to Cebu for the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) Final Assembly in Cebu City.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian represented his brother during the event because the senator was in Iloilo City for a simultaneous event. Yet the senator wanted to check in badly with Cebu officials on the state of education here.

Senator Win has been pushing for the improvement of the education system in the country throughout his time in office, passing laws such as the Free Higher Education Act.

Mayor Rex said that the senator is concerned that after Odette, students in Cebu City may have been having a difficult time with distance learning, especially with the lack of connectivity.

The situation has already been difficult in the past years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the typhoon must have made significant damages to the learning of the Cebuano students.

This is why the senator is pushing for the safe reopening of schools and the eventual return of face-to-face learning.

“He really emphasizes the crucial time na masubaybayan natin yung pagbalik ng kabataan sa mga classrooms. Medyo, I am a city mayor, Win was also a mayor, and we have seen the struggle ng students sa distance learning, the lack of equipment, the lack of connectivity. Especially here in Cebu na naapektuhan ng Odette. Kung dati hirap na sa connectivity, ngayon mas hirap pa sa connectivity,” said Mayor Rex.

He added that the senator wants to make sure that the country can safely open our schools and to be able to kids to be guided in going to a new normal set-up.

After the return of face-to-face learning, the senator wants to push for enrichment and tutorial classes since there has been a noticeable regress in learning from students during the pandemic.

“Isa pa sa gusto nya pang isulong. Alam natin na during sa distance learning phase na maraming kabataan nating nagdegrees. So, Win is looking into a program to empower, to mobilize our youth to do enrichment or tutorial classes after. Importante kasi na mabalik natin, mahabol natin ang lost years  na nagregress ang iba nating kabataan,” said Mayor Rex.

Aside from education, the senator also want to check what he can do for the energy problems in Cebu, especially the massive loss of power during the typhoon.

The senator is pushing for microgrids so areas without power can organize themselves into microgrids without bureaucracy coming into the way.

“Isa sa mga batas na naipasa nya is making sure na mabilis ang pagprocess ng permit kapag ikaw magtatayo ay power generator,” said Mayor Rex.

The mayor will be bringing the concerns he got from Cebu leaders to the senator for action.

Senator Win, who is running for reelection, had promised to push more on the improvement of education and energy in the country.

/bmjo

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