ILOILO City – Prioritizing education, the Iloilo City Government consistently places premium on building and upgrading learning facilities in public elementary and high schools.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas emphasized the significant, long-term benefits of providing conducive learning environments and upgraded equipment for students’ educational experiences.
“Our ultimate goal is to invest in our Ilonggo youth for our future generation. We believe that a good learning environment, equipped with the necessary facilities, is a key factor that can help our learners excel in their studies,” he stressed.
The mayor further stated that better education would also enhance the youth’’s opportunities in the future.
“Our students today are leaders of tomorrow, so we need to provide them with the best learning environment possible, and it is our priority,” Treñas stressed.
In 2023, using the Special Education Fund (SEF), the city government, through the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), executed 20 infrastructure projects in various elementary and high schools, totaling P217 million.
The projects included the P44.9-million four-storey 16-classroom building (Phase 1) for La Paz National High School (NHS); P40.9-million three-storey 12-classroom building for Nabitasan Elementary School (proposed Integrated School) in La Paz district; P25-million two-storey eight-classroom building also in Nabitasan Elementary School; P12.3-million Ramon A. Avanceña Learning Center; P11.9-million two-storey P.E. facilities with demolition of Mandurriao National High School; P6.9-million two-storey eight-classroom building for Fort San Pedro National High School; and P4.9-million repair of classrooms of S. Abeto Elementary School in Arevalo.
Moreover, last year, the city government completed a two-storey building with complete basic facilities in Barangay Dungon A, Jaro district, for nearly P5 million, funded by the Local Government Support Fund – Support to the Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP).
“We also rehabilitated our public plazas and open spaces, and improved our public markets. We have built health facilities like dialysis centers, providing free services to our indigent residents in need. Soon, the construction of our P250-million legislative building and one-stop business center will also be completed. This year, we aim to construct our multilevel parking building,” Treñas noted.
He added, “This is where our taxes go. We give back to the community through programs and projects that truly benefit them.”
As an ongoing priority, further improvements to school facilities are planned for this year. Treñas assured the construction of more classrooms and academic facilities for additional schools.
For this year, ongoing education-related projects under SEF include the construction of a two-storey, six-classroom building with demolition at E. Juntado Elementary School in Molo district for P23.9 million; a two-storey, 30-classroom building at TCT-AR Foundation Integrated School in Barangay Lanit, Jaro for P100.9 million; and a three-storey, nine-classroom building at Tabucan Elementary School in Mandurriao district for P34.9 million.
Beyond public elementary and high schools, the city government is investing in upgrading Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers or daycare centers.
Iloilo City boasts 202 ECCD centers.
Modern ECCD centers have been constructed for Barangay Sta. Felomina, Arevalo; Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz; Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro; Block 17, Dungon C, Mandurriao; and Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala 2, with the construction of the North Baluarte ECCD center ongoing./PN
