Aquino lauds Luistro in classroom turnover, hits previous administration

President Benigno S. Aquino III hands over a school building replica to Nicole Maceda (3rd from left), Joshua Diaz and Danna Claire Javier (L) during the ceremonial turnover of 66,813 accomplished classrooms in Carmona National High School in Brgy. 8, Carmona, Cavite. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino III on Monday praised Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro for a job-well-done on the completion of 66,813 classrooms that erased the backlog of 66,800 classrooms from the previous administration.

In the ceremonial turnover of the classrooms in Carmona, Cavite, Aquino added that his administration already fixed the problem regarding the other problems schools in the country faced during the previous administration.

He said that his administration provided 62 million books to fill the void in the school libraries in 2012, and the 2.5 million chairs that were made using logs obtained through illegal measures.

“We even used the logs which were illegally obtained, to make sure that no one will benefit in the process of illegal logging.”

According to the President, the backlog on the more than 146,000 teachers, composed of volunteers and teachers who specialize in certain subjects, was already filled in 2010.

Aquino said that all the backlog that his administration fixed started on the previous administration of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“This milestone of ours is not the fruit of any miracle, or made-up numbers, this is a concrete result of the teamwork and professionalism of the DepEd, the Department of Public Works and Highways, our economic team who wholeheartedly developed the economy, and the proper use of our funds.”

The President, however, said that the “top one” to be given thanks was Luistro who, as Aquino said, gave up his position in the De La Salle University and take up a government job.

“Secretary Armin can still refuse my offer to serve in the government, he already has a successful yet quiet life in his vocation,” Aquino said.

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