San Remigio gets a 3-storey nine-classroom building courtesy of the Cebu provincial government and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation. From left are San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Gov. Hilario Davide III, school principal Reynaldo dela Rama and RAFI Education Development Unit executive director Ernie Alix. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
No more classes in tents for students of San Remigio National High School in northern Cebu.
Gov. Hilario Davide III, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Ernie Alix of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) led the ceremonial turnover of the P12-million three-story nine-classroom school building last Dec. 15.
School principal Reynaldo dela Rama received the classrooms in behalf of the Department of Education.
In his message, Davide congratulated the students and the community for the new school building. He said the youth should be at the center of “our love, attention and efforts” because they are the “hope of the motherland.” Education is one of the six development agenda of the current administration.
For her part, Magpale said, “In order to build an ideal community we have to start with the young.”
The governor and vice governor also thanked RAFI for their help and for espousing the same belief.
“Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the unlimited needs of our constituents with very limited resources. Mao nga nalipay kita adunay nongovernment organizations like RAFI nga nitabang,” said Magpale.
San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez said the town was fortunate to be one of the recipients of the project. The mayor was also proud of the school for producing scholars and cum laude graduates not only in Cebu universities but also in Metro Manila.
Currently, dela Rama said about five sections with about 250 students are holding classes in tents.
Four sections were supposed to be at the covered court. However, the facility was torn down by supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013. Students had to endure learning under unfavorable conditions. “Init kaayo ug naa adlaw, mapiskan pud ug ulan kung moulan,” said dela Rama.
Starting January 2016, Dela Rama said all classes will be held inside the classrooms. Some 450 special science students will occupy the new classrooms.
The project was built through the partnership between the Capitol and RAFI.
RAFI shouldered 65 percent of the total project cost while the Capitol shelled out P5 million as counterpart.
The new school building in San Remigio was among the 10 school buildings for high school students constructed province-wide.