Celso unveils 3 repaired bldgs worth P3M at Mercedes NHS
What used to be a bodega of junks and decaying buildings at Mercedes National High School in the east coast now look so brand new after a rehabilitation cost of about P3 million by the city government under the present administration of Mayor Celso Lobregat.
Fresh from his State of the City Report in the City Council last week, Mayor Lobregat yesterday led the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated buildings with a total of 14 classrooms more than enough to accommodate the growing student population of Mercedes NHS.
“This is our first project inauguration since I delivered my annual report to the City Council last Thursday and this is part of the so many great and relevant things that our administration has been doing for the city, especially for the public education sector,” Lobregat said, stressing that the rehabilitation of the three buildings proved that “we spent money prudently.” “Many people thought the buildings were better if demolished, but our policy is to save, repair, restore and rehab old buildings whenever we can and they came as good as new.”
In his message during the turnover ceremony, Lobregat quoted part of his report on what Education Secretary Jesli Lapus had said about the city’s education investments; “Everywhere I go, the city is doing relevant and great things in development. In education alone, half-a-billion has been been earmarked for school buildings and the project has already begun. I have not seen this much intensity and commitment to what really matters. Ganyan po ang city government of Zamboanga.”
He said that for the last three years he had implemented more than P50 million worth of infrastructure projects in Mercedes, which include the ongoing construction of Mercedes-Lumbayao bridge amounting to P15 million.
As this developed, Mercedes NHS Principal Manuel Rebollos expressed his deepest gratitude to Mayor Lobregat for the newly rehabilitated classroom buildings and for the two additional teacher-items; one by the national and another by the Local School Board.
Likewise, Mercedes barangay chairman Neofito Casimiro thanked the chief executive for the more than P50 million infrastructure projects the city government has implemented in his barangay.
Also present during the inauguration program were City Schools Superintendent Dolores Alcantara, City Engineer Luis Despalo, council aspirants for District 2 Roseller “Ller” Natividad, Percival Ramos and Michael Alavar, the entire barangay officials of Mercedes, students, parents and teachers of Mercedes NHS. (Vic Larato)