The Security Bank Foundation and the Ateneo de Manila University turned over two new school buildings with six classrooms each to the Mandaue city government last Thursday.
The mayor said the two new school buildings worth P14.5 million for Basak Elementary School and Jagobiao Elementary School will help address the shortage of classrooms. He said the 63 classrooms in the city remain unsafe and are due for renovation after suffering major damage from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Oct. 15.
Cortes said the new school buildings were inspected for damage before being turned over.
“Gi-inspect ni ang building after sa linog pero wala juy nakita nga liki. Akoa gani gi commend ang contractor ani (This building was inspected after the quake, but there was no damage seen. I commended the contractor of this building,” Cortes said.
The new classrooms were built through a public-private partnership between the city and Security Bank Foundation.
Each classroom can accommodate 50 students.
“We are very happy that the donors chose Mandaue as their beneficiary,” Cortes said. “We badly need classrooms. Sa una pa ta nagkuwang og classroom, gitiwasan pa jud sa linog (We have long been needing more classrooms, then came the earthquake),” he added.
He said the Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce has also expressed its desire to help build more classrooms for the city.
Rafael Simpao Jr., chairman of Security Bank Foundation, said they donate school buildings in areas where they operate.
“We wanted to give back to our host community,” he said.
Simpao said the foundation has been able to donate 89 school buildings nationwide.