From the very start of the administration of Mayor Art Mercado in 2022, one of his top priorities has been the improvement of the education sector of San Pedro City, Laguna.
From free school supplies (in 2022) and free school uniforms (in 2023) to all public-school students in San Pedro City, to the expansion of scholarship grants under the city government’s Iskolar ng Lungsod ng San Pedro (ILSP) program, Mercado has made it clear: for San Pedro City to become “Una sa Laguna,” the welfare of its students should come first.
And more recently, this prioritization of San Pedro City’s education sector is again manifested by the recent turnover of new equipment for the Laguna Resettlement Community School (LRCS) in Barangay United Bayanihan Tuesday, May 14.
Mercado, accompanied by San Pedro City Schools Division Office (SDO) Superintendent Rogelio Opulencia and other city officials, officially turned over to LRCS Principal Dr. Rosalie Mabale the new equipment, consisting of radios, sports equipment, and new tables and chairs for teachers.
Assurance of continued assistance
During the event, which coincided with the celebration of Mercado’s birthday, the city executive stressed that education will always remain a vital part of his goal for the city to become “Una sa Laguna.”
"Ito'y para sa mga minamahal nating mga teachers. Ang ating prayoridad po will always be our education sector, dahil naniniwala po ako na dapat ngayon pa lang pangalagaan po natin ang ating mga mag-aaral at ang ating mga guro,” Mercado noted in his speech.
The new equipment will not only boost the working capabilities of teachers and non-teaching personnel at LRCS, but is also a way of rewarding the teachers who continued to serve for their students despite numerous challenges, particularly the high temperatures that had forced the city government to suspend classes during the past weeks.
“Alam ko pong napakahirap po ng inyong trabaho; day in and day out, pumapasok po kayo nang maaga para mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga kabataan dito sa lungsod ng San Pedro. Nandyan po kayo, ipinapakita po ninyo ang inyong pagmamahal sa ating mga kabataan kaya gusto ko rin pong ipakitra sa inyo ang pagmamahal ng ating city government; gusto ko pong ibigay ang lahat ng mga benepisyo para sa lahat ng ating mga teacher,” Mercado said.
“Rest assured habang ako po ang inyong punong lungsod, gagawin po natin ang lahat para ipakita po ang pagmamahal ng ating gobyerno para sa bawat isa sa inyong lahat,” the city mayor added.
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