THE two century-old Gabaldon school buildings at the Pangasinan National High School (PNHS) in Lingayen will soon undergo immediate restoration work and rehabilitation.

The decision was made after an inspection of the condition of the south and north Gabaldon school buildings at the PNHS was made by a delegation of PNHS alumni and Department of Education (DepEd) officials from Pangasinan 1 Division Office led by 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, 2nd District Engineer Rodolfo Dion and Alberto Sison of ASS Construction

2nd District Rep. Bataoil with DEPED Pangasinan 1 Division Office personnel and DPWH inspect the dilapidated Gabaldon school building at the Pangasinan National High School in Lingayen.

Bataoil, 1970 alumnus of PNHS, said, there is a need for the immediate repair for the century old buildings because of the hazard and danger posed by the dilapidated ceilings to students attending classes daily.

He said the cost of the major repair will be sourced from the P25 million budget allocated in 2017 under the regular infrastructure fund of DepEd, and if that would not be enough, there is a P7 million savings from the bidding process of the different government agencies that could be used to augment the fund.

According to Sison, the restoration and rehabilitation will take at least 180 days based on the projected program of work.

However, Elvira Viray, PNHS principal said, the 180 days will not be enough since only one building should be repaired at a time to enable the school to continue to use classrooms of one on a two-shift basis on a 12-hour basis (6 a.m.-6p.m.).

PNHS has 6,681 junior and senior high school student with only 150 rooms to accommodate them.

Bataoil asked ASS Construction to make the restoration and rehabilitation of the two Gabaldon School buildings as a model for the school tourism project.

According to Sison, his company is also undertaking the restoration program of other Gabladon Buildings in Asingan, San Quintin, Sta. Maria and Umingan.

He added that DepEd is mandated by R.A. 10066, also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, that requires the conservation and preservation of Gabaldon School Buildings and other historical buildings.

The Gabaldon School Buildings was designed by the American Architect William Parson and was funded through the Republic Act No. 1801 authored by then Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon during the Assemblea Filipina or Philippine Assembly where the Gabaldon Act of 1907 was passed to fund the needs for the public school buildings then. (Nora Dominguez)

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