Right from the start of his term in 2022, San Pedro City, Laguna Mayor Art Mercado has placed education high among his priorities.
From free school supplies and uniforms, to expanded scholarship programs and added support to teachers, the Mercado administration has made it clear: for the city government of San Pedro, education is an essential investment in his goal of making San Pedro City "Una sa Laguna."
And last January 9, another major investment of the city government finally came to fruition.
Mercado led city officials in the inauguration of a new four-storey, eight-classroom school building inside the San Isidro Elementary School in Sitio Bayan-bayanan, Barangay San Vicente.
As Sitio Bayan-bayanan has been home to many "transplanted" San Pedrenses who have sought to give a better life to their children, Mercado believes the new schoolbuilding is more than just a place to learn: it is a starting point of the realization of dreams of a better future.
"Hindi lang po tayo nag-inaugurate ng isang school building; today, we are opening doors of opportunity, hope and a better future to our children," Mercado emphasized in his speech at the event.
Drawing on the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child," the city executive also hailed the support of parents, school teachers and officials, and the taxpayers whom he had always emphasized are the drivers of the administration's push for inclusive growth and progress.
"Kung tuluy-tuloy po ang suporta ninyo, tuluy-tuloy din po ang ating pamahalaan," Mercado said. "Patuloy na aabutin natin ang ating pangarap na ang lungsod ng San Pedro ay tunay na maging 'Una sa Laguna.'"
City officials expressed the hope that the new schoolbuildings will help reduce the problem of congestion in the city's public schools, which in turn will create a more conducive environment for students and teachers to learn and grow together.
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