Cebu City Central School unveils refurbished building

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Central School can now conduct regular classes after the refurbished Gabaldon building, which was destroyed by a fire two years ago, was formally turned over on Wednesday.  

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama together with lawyer Augusto Go and representatives from Department of Education  led the blessing and unveiling of the marker of the right wing of the Gabaldon Building on December 10 at P. Del Rosario Street Corner Osmeña Boulevard, Sambag Uno Cebu City.

The new building was refurbished on November 2013 and was finished on May 4, 2014. However, it was not formally turned over immediately to the school due to some standard operating procedures.

According to Raylene Manawatao, division science coordinator and former principal of the school, the whole restoration project amounted to P12 million.

Go, owner of the University of Cebu and an alumnus of the Cebu City Central School, gave P3 million for the restoration of the building. The rest of the budget came from DepEd National while the Cebu City government provided manpower.

The new building has 15 classrooms to be used by fast SPED learners or Special Science Classes from Grade one to six and the Special Education Classes for children with disabilities. The building also has a training center or multi-purpose convention room for teachers.

During the unveiling ceremony, Go also promised to fix the school's fence and put up a flag pole.

Lyra Illaga, current principal of CCCS, expressed their gratitude especially since they can now conduct regular classes.

"Pagkakaron, maka-regular classes na gyud nuon mi, kay before katong nasunog mag-shifting classes man ang mga bata, naay morning naay afternoon. Karon whole day na wa nay double shift," Illaga said. — Lengy Mae N. Mariot and Janice B. Marsada, USJ-R MassComm Interns/ATO  (FREEMAN)