Flood-prone school receives SM’s 92nd building donation

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Pupils at the East Central Integrated School in Dagupan City have reasons to be happy. The young learners will be attending classes in a new two-story, four-classroom persons with disability (PWD)-friendly elevated school building donated by SM Prime through SM Foundation.

The pupils will enjoy new geometrically shaped and colored desks and tables, their own comfort rooms and fans to cool them from the warm dryness of the province throughout the year. Their rooms are also shaded from the sun by the cool-colored curtains provided by the parents-teachers association.

All four classrooms can comfortably accommodate 50 students, with each classroom on the top floor equipped with five left-handed desks and the rest right-handed desks; two wall fans, comfort rooms with sinks; concave blackboards and teachers’ desks and tables. The kindergarten rooms also have wall fans, toilets, concave blackboards and teachers’ desks and tables.

The school building has ramps and a dedicated toilet and washroom for PWDs on the ground floor. It is equipped with LED lights, emergency exits and fire extinguishers.

The school building was turned over to school principal Reynaldo Barrozo and to local officials led by Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The ground floor will be utilized by kindergarten pupils while the second floor has been assigned to grade three pupils.

 East Central is said to be the oldest operating school in Pangasinan. The school caters to two barangays – Mayombo and Herrera Perez – with a current student population of 2,300 and a teaching staff of 99.

Engineer Ramon Gil Macapagal, trustee of the SMFI and SMIC head of corporate affairs and sustainability, said SM Foundation is committed to serve by supporting and empowering its host communities through education, health care, shelter, disaster response, farmers’ training, environmental programs and care for persons with special needs.

“We work hand in hand with our communities to create opportunities and improve lives,” he said. 

 Macapagal asked the school administration to take good care of the school building where future leaders of industries and the government could come from.

“SM wants to enhance the learning experience for students, so that they will have memories worth recalling later in life," he said.