50 new Pagcor Sibol kindergarten classrooms ready for June school opening

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has turned over 50 new kindergarten classrooms to selected public schools in the country in time for the opening of classes on June 4.

“We will have 50 Sibol kindergarten classrooms ready for the opening of school year 2012-2013,” Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Cristino Naguiat Jr. said.

The construction of the Sibol kindergarten classrooms which began in February is being carried out by Pagcor in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Foundation.

Each 63-sqm Sibol classroom, which costs approximately P650,000, adopts the “green architecture,” makes use of vertically extended roof spaces for natural lighting and adequate ventilation, and has its own comfort room and lavatory.

Pagcor allocated P65 million for the construction of 100 learning centers in communities nationwide where GK serves. The GK volunteers help build the classrooms while the DepEd will manage the schools upon completion of the construction, Naguiat said.

 “Apart from the 50 Sibol kindergarten classrooms in public schools, the second phase of the project will cover the construction of another 25 Sibol classrooms and 25 Tambayani Centers for out-of-school youths in GK communities or sites,” Naguiat added.

He said the Sibol kindergarten classrooms are part of the agency’s “Matuwid na Daan sa Silid-Aralan” project.

“We have initially allocated P1 billion for this project. It intends to address the education sector’s perennial problem on classrooms shortage by building 1,000 classrooms nationwide,” Naguiat said.