Recodo folk thank Lobregat for P21M RNHS complex
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines/25 March 2010 by Vic Larato—Recodo residents in the west coast today expressed their profound thanks and gratitude to the city government under the leadership of Mayor Celso Lobregat for the newly inaugurated Recodo National High School complex worth almost P21 million.
Speaking on behalf of the people of Recodo and the adjoining villages, Warid H. Handi, president of the Recodo NHS Parents-Teachers Association, described yesterday’s unveiling rites for RNHS complex as an inspiring milestone in the quest for quality education.
He said the new Recodo NHS complex is a legacy of the mayor’s assistance to education which is the youth’s best weapon to overcome poverty. “Mayor Lobregat, there is no way we can thank you enough, except during the coming May 10 elections,” he said to a thundering applause of agreement from teachers, students and parents.
Amid the scorching the sun, Mayor Lobregat led the barangay officials of Recodo, teachers, students and other guests in the series of blessings for four projects that make up the Recodo NHS complex.
First to be blessed by Rev. Fr. Amado Jose P. Vaño was the 322-meter road network (P3 million) from the highway to the school complex, then the concrete fence with two steel gates amounting to P2.7 million and the two buildings with eight classrooms each (for a total of 16 classrooms) costing P7.7 million each.
The new school complex sits on a parcel of the almost 15,000-sqm property donated to the city government by the Consunji family of the M&S Company, Inc. for the school complex, the fire sub-station, which was inaugurated early this month with no less Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as guest, and the barangay hall worth P3.8 million, which is undergoing finishing touches and ready for inauguration. On the same property, the city will also establish the Community Police Assistance Center (Compac).
In his message, Mayor Lobregat paid tribute to David and Victor Consunji for the lot donation, without which the long and standing dream of the people of Recodo and neighboring barangays to have a national high school would not have come true.
Lobregat recalled that it was exactly a year ago (on March 25, 2009) when the Recodo NHS complex broke ground after the donation was perfected between the city and the Consunji family.
He also thanked Congresswoman Beng Climaco-Salazar for the filing and eventual passage of RA 9581, creating the Recodo NHS, which also gave a boost to the realization of the project.
The mayor further said that sometime in April 1994 the City Council passed an ordinance establishing the Recodo NHS. But that was not implemented immediately; first because there was no lot yet and, second the city was not financially viable at the time.
He said that it was only after he took over and able to improve the city’s financial condition that the lot donation was effected with the Consunji and the construction works started for the projects totaling more than P25 million.
For his part, Antonio Catolico, operations manager of the M&S Company, Inc., said the Consunji family was very happy to see how Mayor Lobregat worked hard for the projects, and for the opportunity to be of help to the education program of the city.
“The Consunjis were monitoring the projects and they were so grateful to Mayor Lobregat for making the best of their property. The donation served its purpose, the best way that the mayor could have done,” said Catolico, who represented the Consunjis during the inauguration rites.
Dominic Bais, principal of the Recodo NHS, was also very grateful to the mayor and the Consunjis for the new school complex. “We promise to take good care of these very unique, spacious and picturesque buildings,” he said.
Highlighting the event was the signing of the memorandum of understanding among Mayor Lobregat, police director Sr. Supt. Edwin Ocampo, fire district director James Ramires, Ayala police station commander Sr. Supt. Hado Edding, the principal and the barangay council for the delineation of their respective areas of jurisdiction on the donated property.
Also present during the unveiling program was vice mayoralty candidate Councilor Cesar Iturralde, reelectionist-councilors Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Rey Candido, Noning Biel together with council aspirants Roseller Natividad, Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, Pinpin Pareja, Kaiser Olaso, Councilors Eddie Rodriguez and Joe-fel delas Peñas, Schools Superintendent Dolores Alcantara, Assistant Superintendent Norma Vecina, other education officials, principals of the different elementary and secondary schools, barangay officials, and several others. (Vic Larato)
VOTA KITA LINYA D: MAYOR CELSO LORENZO LOBREGAT