Still no DepEd OK for school transfer
BSL HOSPITAL PROJECT
CONTRARY to the earlier announcement of Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim, officials of the City School Division revealed they have yet to see any communication in black and white from the Department of Education (DepEd) ordering students to vacate the Juan P. Guadiz Elementary School, which is being eyed by Lim as a site for a hospital project.
City Schools Superintendent Alma Ruby Torio said she has yet to receive any letter from the DepEd central office giving the go signal for the transfer of the school to give way to a proposed 24-bed City Child and Maternal Health Hospital.
In a press statement previously issued by the City Information Office, Lim was quoted as saying, “Pumapayag na ang Department of Education na ilipat ang Guadiz Elementary School upang maumpisahan na natin ang pagpapatayo ng sariling hospital ng lungsod na tutugon sa medical na pangangailangan ng ating mga mamamayan lalo na ang mga batang edad dose pababa na hikahos sa buhay ang kanilang pamilya.”
The mayor supposedly made the statement during the seminar workshop of Barangay Service Point Officer at the West Central Elementary School.
William Macob, education program officer and OIC administrative officer of the City School Division, confirmed that no document from the DepED Secretary or Undersecretary has been received by his office ordering some 2,000 pupils to vacate the school.
RELOCATION SITE
Macob also reiterated his previous statement that an alternative site with proper classrooms must be ready before pupils could vacate their school to avoid any disruption in their education.
At the moment, he noted, the city schools are already suffering from classroom shortage and he does not foresee the DepEd allowing students to be displaced.
Macob said it is possible that the authorization from DepEd may come by the second semester of the school year, but she also stressed that even with the go-signal, the students will not be moved out unless there is a ready school building for the students.
Lim said P20 million has initially been set aside by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) while another P10 million is expected to come as financial aid from Senator Tito Guingona III for the hospital.
The P30 million total, however, is reportedly still not enough for the projected P50 million cost to set up the hospital.
“But, with or without the P50 million, I will start with the construction of the building, ” Lim said.
A bidding for the project has reportedly already been conducted but office of the city mayor has not reported the details to the city council.
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