Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Wednesday said the city government has spent P4.373-billion on infrastructure projects for public schools in Manila and vowed to improve the quality of education by providing modern computers and facilities to all high schools, colleges and universities run by the city.
The former President said another P1.4 billion was set aside for various school projects intended for the growing number of students in Manila.
“Since 2013 up to 2017, the city spent P4.3 billion for the infrastructure public schools,” Estrada said.
He said the city has already constructed 62 new school buildings, repaired and rehabilitated 149 other school buildings.
Estrada said he always desires to improve the welfare of new graduates and for those who will come after them.
Speaking before teachers and parents at the high school graduation rites of Arellano High School, Estrada said he has been working very hard to provide Manila students with everything they need to complete their education.
He said when he assumed the city top post, he observed the sorry state of the many school building in Manila in 2013.
“There were more rundown school buildings than good ones, so, despite a limited budget—because Manila was bankrupt when I was elected, we worked hard to fix the school buildings and classrooms you use now,” Estrada said.
The mayor said he cannot compromise the safety and security of the students and thus he started the rehabilitation of old and dilapidated school buildings and, at the same time, build more school buildings and classrooms.
He also said teachers did not receive the admiration and respect from the previous administration and to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to educating the youth.
“I increased their monthly allowances, and now they are receiving P20,000 in addition to their monthly salaries,” the mayor added.
Estrada added he is doing everything he can to raise the teachers’ benefits and he asked for a little more patience.
The mayor handed cash gifts of P7,000 each for valedictorians; P6,000 each for salutatorians, and to first, second and third honors, P5,000, P4000 and P3,000 each, respectively.