ANGELES CITY – “I am setting aside P25 million for the betterment of education through adequate classrooms.”
Thus said Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin as he led the preparatory meetings for the education summit set at the Clark Freeport on June 23.
Lazatin said the summit dubbed “Kabahagi Ako sa Handog Silid Aralan Tugon sa Kaunlaran” aims to build and repair 431 classrooms in public elementary and high schools in this city, Magalang and Mabalacat.
“Education starts in classrooms and its numbers should be enough to serve the people, especially the poor ones,” Lazatin said.
The two-term solon disclosed that it was Education Secretary Armin Luistro who initiated the summit aimed at tapping private firms to help provide enough classrooms in the province’s first district.
According to the data provided by congressional chief of staff IC Calaguas, this city needs 138 new classrooms, while Mabalacat and Magalang need 72 and 37, respectively.
Some 84 classrooms must be repaired in the two towns and city, added Calaguas in her report.
Based on standards set by DepEd, one classroom should cost around P650,000. About P280 million is needed for the creation of 431 new classrooms.
Lazatin said he will ask Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales of Mabalacat to persuade locators in Clark to donate funds for the project.
“This is part of the public-private partnerships to push for quality education in Pampanga,” he added.
Lazatin also said that Mayor Edgardo “Ed” Pamintuan will be asked to invite business groups and top traders, including Reghis Romero II of this city, to attend the summit to be held at Stotsenberg Hotel.
City Administrator Dennis Albert Pamintuan also proposed to invite top 50 taxpayers for the education summit.
For her part, Mabalacat Councilor Cherry Manalo said this is a “great program considering that Lazatin will be creating 431 classrooms tapping the community to finance it.”
“And at the same time, it will be the next generation who will benefit from the project, showing the foresight and vision of Cong Tarzan,” she added.
Angeles City Councilor Jay Sangil said the public and private should help each other as pushed by Lazatin. Lazatin lauded Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda for supporting their project.
–Joey Pavia
