ABOITIZPOWER, SFELAPCO INAUGURATE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING IN PAMPANGA

Though the education sector has suffered significant setbacks from the ongoing pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) has recently expressed its confidence and optimism in learning with the reopening of some schools for face-to-face classes.

In solidarity with the resumption of in-person learning in the province of Pampanga, AboitizPower, in partnership with San Fernando Electric Light and Power Company (SFELAPCO), formalized the turnover of the newly built two-storey school building to the San Agustin Integrated School-Annex.

The school broke ground in late 2019 but the construction efforts were put on hold when the pandemic unexpectedly hit in March 2020. In a ceremony held last March 4, the school administrators welcomed the representatives from the local government of San Fernando headed by Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, as well as the executives from SFELAPCO and AboitizPower as they conducted a ribbon-cutting and ceremonial signing of the school’s Deed of Donation.

This event symbolizes a fresh start for over 400 enrollees who will be using the new classrooms and facilities should there be plans to conduct classes in person. This is a significant shift from the challenging ways of online learning at home.

SFELAPCO’s Senior Vice President and General Manager Jose T. Lazatin expressed his enthusiasm in seeing the school finally erected, “The pandemic may have slightly held us back from opening the school, but now we are excited to welcome the students back in a safe and refreshing environment of learning where they can absorb their lessons and be in the company of their friends and teachers. As with the rest of the households, businesses, and families in San Fernando, we are here to support the San Agustin Integrated School-Annex in elevating the quality of education in the province and fulfill the learning aspirations of their students.”

AboitizPower’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations, Juan Alejandro Aboitiz, also shared his thoughts on seeing the new school building to fruition, “On behalf of AboitizPower and the Aboitiz Foundation, we thank our partners from SFELAPCO and the school administrators for staying the course of this two-year journey of building new school facilities despite the pandemic. Education is a key pillar in the Corporate Social Responsibility roadmap of the group. We are committed to partnering with different stakeholders to boost the quality of education and create a conducive atmosphere of learning in communities that need them the most.”

The school principal was all smiles throughout the turnover program. Marie Grace S. Ramos expressed her gratitude and relief for having finally made it to the finish line. “The long wait is over. The structure is eagerly awaiting the noise and cheerful sounds of the students. We’re very excited for the kids. On behalf of the entire school, we are very thankful to have been chosen as a beneficiary of this school building project,” she added.