The City Government of Valenzuela, under the leadership of Mayor REX Gatchalian, witnesses another significant moment in its commitment to education as it inaugurates the new buildings of two (2) of its public high schools – Lawang Bato National High School (LBNHS) and Canumay East National High School (CENHS) today, March 04.
The simultaneous inauguration is also joined by none other than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the new school infrastructure is anchored on the “Build Build Build” Program – the national government’s agenda to boost infrastructure projects which includes school building programs.
Lawang Bato National High School (LBNHS) in Barangay Lawang Bato, first established on September 20, 2019, was officially completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this January 2021. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the new campus was able to have three (3) four-storey buildings constructed composing of 44 rooms.
The new national high school is expected to house 3,282 Valenzuelano Junior and Senior High School students along with 113 teachers and staff.
Formerly an "integrated school" where high school students are joined with elementary and secondary pupils in one campus, LBNHS will only be dedicated to high school students as the school welcomes a bigger population to accommodate its entire studentry.
In addition, Canumay East National High School (CENHS) in Barangay Canumay East also welcomes two (2) four-storey buildings with eight (8) classrooms each building. One building was nationally-funded, and one building was funded by the City Government of Valenzuela.
The buildings will serve as a new home to 1,078 Junior High School students and 43 teachers and staff of CENHS.
Deputy Speaker and Valenzuela City District 1 Congressman WES Gatchalian also complements the new school buildings with a multi-purpose activity center perfect for school activities and exercises.
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian thanks the national government for its never-ending support to the City's initiatives, with the new buildings serving as "a symbol of legacy of the government's dedication to public education."
Being dubbed as an “Industrial City”, the barangays of Lawang Bato and Canumay East houses many of the city’s manufacturing factories, with minimum wage families relying on the public education system to avail of the quality education for their children.
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones supports Valenzuela City’s initiatives and focus on education, applauding Valenzuela City as being the “most awarded and a leading local government” in terms of its concern for education.
With the new public high school buildings, President Duterte affirms the development agenda of having “quality education for all Filipinos” – nearing the goal of having a “conducive learning environment for our students”.
Also gracing the simultaneous inauguration ceremonies are Senator Win Gatchalian, Senator Bong Go, Ms. Honelyet Avanceña, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, DepEd Valenzuela School Superintendent Dr. Meliton Zurbano, City Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Deputy Speaker and District 2 Congressman Eric Martinez, City Councilors, and barangay officials.