ILOILO – Ardemil National High School in Barangay Ardemil, Sara town will see the construction of new classrooms, thanks to a P6.3-million grant from the provincial government. Nine of its existing classrooms have been declared unsafe and unusable.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. handed over the funds to Dr. Richard Arquintillo, principal of Ardemil National High School, on May 9. This financial aid aims to address the urgent need for safe learning environments at the school.
The school’s current facilities, some of which were hastily constructed in 2018, have deteriorated significantly. During rainy weather, the makeshift classrooms become extremely muddy, and during hot weather, the conditions inside are unbearably warm due to poor ventilation.
In an interview with DYRI RMN Iloilo, an emotional Dr. Arquintillo expressed his concerns about the disparity in educational facilities available to his students compared to those at larger schools.
“It feels as though our learners are not even considered citizens of the Republic of the Philippines or learners of the Department of Education,” he said.
In addition to the construction funds, Governor Defensor discussed exploring the use of modular tents provided by the Philippine Red Cross as temporary classrooms to alleviate the shortage more quickly.
Traditional construction could delay the availability of new classrooms and would require substantial funding.
Dr. Arquintillo thanked the Iloilo provincial government for responding to their call for assistance, ensuring that the students of Ardemil National High School will soon have a safer and more conducive learning environment./PN
