Tebeng school opens after 8 years
AFTER being abandoned for eight years owing to a legal technicality for its operation, the Tebeng Elementary School in Dagupan City is finally going to be used for the first time in June this year.
City Schools Superintendent Alma Ruby Torio assured the opening of the elementary school when she recently assigned Valentina Hortaleza as school principal.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez also confirmed that Tebeng Elementary Schools is finally opening after she and Torio led in the ‘Brigada Eskwela’ there on May 23, which was participated in by parents, members of the Philippine Army from Camp Tito Abat, and representatives from the ABS-CBN Foundation.
A TV report of ABS-CBN initiated the moves to use the Tebeng Elementary School after it reported that the school’s eight classrooms had been standing unutilized for more than eight years after these were built notwithstanding the shortage of classrooms in the city.
Tebeng Barangay Chairwoman Helen Fermill said the community is excited about the opening of its elementary school and residents are helping prepare it for occupancy under the Brigada Eskwela program.
Fermill said it is a big boon to students of Barangay Tebeng who have been attending school in adjacent Barangays Mamalingling and Caranglaan, passing through rough roads.
RELUCTANT
The school, occupying a lot owned by businessman Cesar Duque, was left idle in the past eight years after the Department of Education decided not to organize classes there unless the lot is turned over to the department.
Vice Mayor Fernandez said DepEd has finally decided to buy the property.
Former barangay officials of Tebeng said Duque initially allowed the barangay government to use his property as site of the Tebeng Elementary School for free.
The two school buildings at the Tebeng Elementary School were built by the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. through his Priority Development Assistance Fund.
De Venecia also bankrolled the construction of a multi-purpose gymnasium in the school premises, which has been serving as a venue for social occasions by the barangay.
The school is starting with Preparatory and Grade 1 classes this year to be handled by four teachers.
Hortaleza said so far, 54 pupils have already enrolled in Grade 1 and may comprise two sections.–LM
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