Cebu City, Cebu
3 March 2016

President Beningo S. Aquino III led the inauguration of the newly constructed 4-storey school building at the Guadalupe Elementary School in Cebu City, Cebu.

In a symbolic turnover of keys, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, headed by Chairman Cristino “Bong” Naguiat Jr., handed over the classroom keys to Education Secretary Armin Luistro who then passed it on to Guadalupe Elementary School Principal Dr. Nestor Arandia.

According to the President, the 66,800 classroom shortages that were earlier identified at the start of his term in office had already been completed and delivered which also includes the delivery of 61.7-million textbooks, 2.5-million chairs, and hiring of 145,827 public school teachers nationwide.

“Dulo po ng inisyatibang ito: Bago tayo bumaba sa ppuwesto, aabot sa 185,149 ang bilang ng silid-aralang maipapatayo at mapopondohan natin. Yan po ang tuwid na daan,” he added.

Considered as the most populated school in Cebu City, the Guadalupe Elementary School currently has 6,407 students that house an average of 55 students per classroom. With the completion of the 4-storey building, equipped with 20 brand new classrooms, the public school is confident it will offset its current ratio to 1:45—the ideal DepEd standard class.

Meanwhile, construction of the building amounted to P39,701,417 was sourced out under the funding of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) 2013 Silid Aralan Project. The building construction started on 4 August 2014 and will be completed 15 March 2016.

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