CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government yesterday entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and town mayors for the repair of Gabaldon buildings.
Governor Hilario Davide III said the partnership with RAFI is a “lasting gift” they can give to schoolchildren who will use the school buildings. The cost for the repair is P24.7 million.
RAFI has pledged a 40 percent counterpart for the repair cost while the Capitol and the local government will share 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
Gabaldon buildings which will be repaired under the MOA are at Inghoy Elementary School and Lepanto Elementary School in Alegria; Bantayan Central School; Madridejos Central School; Elpidio de Dios Elementary School and Luyang Elementary School in Carmen; and Pinamungajan Central School.
Last year, RAFI repaired the Gabaldon structures at Jampang Elementary School and Sumaguan Elementary School in Argao, and those at Balud and Obong elementary schools in Dalaguete town.
Simplecia Camporedondo, 74, a retired teacher of Jampang Elementary School, related how their three Gabaldon classrooms, built in 1939, were destroyed by typhoon Litang in the early ‘80s, displacing many students.
Despite the situation, teachers still held their classes inside the destroyed buildings until 1989 when a new school building was built.
Camporedondo, who during her time as a student also had “memories” of the old building, said the Gabaldon buildings, after more than two decades, were fully repaired by RAFI.
She said she was “very happy” that from typhoon-ravaged structures, their old Gabaldon classrooms have become “nice buildings” that are conducive to learning. — Liv G Campo/ATO (FREEMAN)