CEBU, Philippines - A public elementary school will be built soon in Barangay Ermita for the convenience of the children attending classes at the Cebu City Central School.
Cebu City schools division superintendent Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud said 18 percent of the student population in central school is from Barangay Ermita.
"Dako kaayo na’g ikatabang. Daghang bata ang dili na ganahan mo-eskwela tungod sa kalayo unya traffic pa gyud," Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta said.
For the school year 2012-2013, more than 50 elementary school children from the said barangay dropped out of school because of the distance.
Yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama together with Angtud and Roberto Aboitiz, President of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation (RAFI), Incorporated signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of the school.
"We have always known the fact that there's really need for a school in Ermita because it is one of the most heavily populated barangays in the city," said Anthony Dignadice, RAFI Education Development Unit Executive Director.
Dignadice said at least 540 students can be accommodated in the four-storey building with 12 classrooms. It will accommodate kindergarten until grade 3 students.
Teresa Devira, a resident in the said barangay and has one child studying at Cebu City Central School said, she will not transfer her grade 2 child but she's happy with the project.
"Dili na kay hassle na. Niya mag-grade 3 naman (next school year). Mao lang gihapon kun ibalhin, ibalik na pud nako sa City Central School," Devira said
Same as Devira, Sherlyn Ponsica, who has 2 children studying in the same school said she will not transfer her 2 kids but she's planning to enroll her other child in the future school in Ermita.
"Dili lang kay hassle na. Naanad naman sad mi magsige lakaw kada adlaw," Ponsica said.
The Cebu City government purchased the 1,042 square-meter lot in the said barangay amounting to P10 million.
Councilor Noel Wenceslao, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, said the city has already paid P5 million.
He clarified that half of the amount will be paid through the appropriate budget considering that there's "a continuing appropriation."
RAFI is given one year to finish the construction while the city government has 2 months to clear the area from informal settlers. The budget for the construction of the school is P13 million, according to Dignadice.
The school will be constructed near the Barangay Hall on a lot where a 2-storey building occupied by 57 Muslim families is standing.
Abdulcer Mohamad, one of the Muslim settlers, however said they are willing to cooperate.
Some families have already found another house and will leave on January 15. (FREEMAN)