Mayor addresses 8t students: Education highlights Paz Radaza’s report

CEBU, Philippines - Almost 8,000 students flocked to the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City to hear the State of the Children's Report of Mayor Paz Radaza yesterday afternoon as part of the 22nd National Children's Month celebration.

In her speech, Radaza highlighted the children's need to attain education, enjoy sports and promote their welfare.

She said the city allocated P80 million for the additional 88 rooms that will be constructed this year, after the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority "initially paid" its tax dues to the city.

"We still need 249 classrooms in anticipation of the influx of new enrollees. Currently, we have 62,518 elementary pupils and 27,441 high school students," Radaza said.

"However, I am very happy to announce that we have already attained the classroom student ratio of 1 is to 46 for elementary and 1 is to 52 for high school. This is way above the national ratio," she said.

According to Radaza, records show that the city's National Achievement Test rate and division rate is increasing at five percent per annum starting from school year 2011 to 2013.

This, she said, is expected to be maintained or even improved further as the city fully implements the "We Care" program to keep students away from distractions.

"We Care" program aims to penalize businesses like internet cafes, billiard halls, videoke bars that will admit students during class hours, Radaza said.

Radaza also commended four graduating high school students from Science and Technology Education Center who emerged as top 3 best team out of 84 groups during the Philippine Robotics Olympics 2014 held last month.

They are Mikko Patalinjug, Montessa Despi and Cleugene Cabanillas who will compete in the World Robotic Olympics in Sochi, Russia this November.

Jerish John Velarde, an eight-year-old grade 2 pupil, was also acknowledged by Radaza for winning two silver medals in the 15th ASEAN Chess Championships held in Macau, China last June in three different chess categories.

The mayor also lauded John Rex "Dandoy" Tongco, a longboarder from Lapu-Lapu, who started his career in freestyle longboarding event at the age of 14. He is now the country's longboarding icon after five years.

Last August, Dandoy with two other group members, dominated the longboarding competition in Indonesia garnering three spots among the four championship ranks.

"The success of this young man has inspired our city to construct a skate park at the side of Hoops Dome," Radaza said.  (FREEMAN)