Angeles City—Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.’s educational assistance to public schools and teachers amid the pandemic has received recognition from the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office III.
“The pandemic has altered the lives of many, but we must continue to do the best for our children,” Lazatin said.
“Maraming salamat po sa DepEd, naging katuwang din po natin sila sa pagseguro ng mga programang nagsusulong sa edukasyon ng bawat isang kabataang Angeleño,” he added.
The award was conferred to Lazatin during the recent virtual recognition of Government and Community Stakeholders recognizing the topmost involvement and participation of various stakeholders in ensuring that education must continue amidst the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Angeles mayor has allotted P209 million to purchase 61,200 computer tablets for 55,000 Grades 4 to 12 students and 3,000 school teachers in 53 public schools, and 3,200 scholars in the City College of Angeles (CCA).
The tablets are exclusively being used in the transition to online learning but to be given back to the school’s administration at the end of the school year.
City records showed 49,992 tablets had already been distributed in 48 public schools and are currently being used by students from Grades 4 to 12.
Apart from this, Lazatin has also allocated P20 million for free wifi connection, installing 200 access points in the city’s 33 barangays to help students with their online classes.
The city government has also distributed house-to-house P1,000 educational financial assistance to 1,000 indigent students throughout the city’s 33 barangays.
The city mayor has set aside P5 million for the repair of day care centers and classrooms; P12 million to purchase air conditioning units and television sets for all 76 day care centers; and P30 million from the Local School Board fund for 2021 will be used for the repair of public elementary schools, including comfort rooms, and construction of additional classrooms for public high schools.
He also announced additional courses, construction of classrooms and buildings in CCA, using the P50 million donation from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The city government also allotted P25 million for the skills trainings and livelihood assistance program for the parents, to ensure that they have the means to sustain their needs and provide their children an adequate standard of living.