A new P252-million three-storey school building, complete with 16 classrooms and laboratories, for the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in Intramuros, will be used by its students starting school year 2017.
According to Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the building tops the list of the city’s major school infrastructure projects in his second term as chief executive of the capital.
“Thousands of young Manileños have graduated from PLM and have become professionals. With this new school building, we will be able to help educate many more poor but bright students, the future of our nation,” he said.
PLM was established on June 19, 1965 as a tuition-free local university, Estrada noted. It is known as the first tertiary-level institution in the country to offer tuition-free education, and the first university funded solely by a city government.
The Manila Department of Engineering and Public Works said the old PLM main building, which was more than 50 years old, had been condemned after many cracks were found in the structure, and it was later demolished.
DEPW said the construction of the new building started last year, and is scheduled to be completed this month. The city engineers said the building’s façade and general exterior features were preserved to maintain its heritage attributes, noting the school has become historical and is located inside the historic Intramuros area.
The construction, however, utilized modern “bored pile” technology of installing the building’s foundations, a technology also used in the construction of the Light Rail Transit system tracks, which minimizes impacts or effects of new constructions to existing structures in the vicinity, DEPW said.
The new PLM building is good for another 50 years or more, the department added.
Through Estrada’s initiatives, the city-run university has finally received its full financial subsidies from the city government, which previous administrations failed to give.
Considered city scholars, PLM students now enjoy free shuttle service, free uniforms and graduation togas, and even accident insurance. Internet Wi-Fi service is also available at the school campus.
Also among Estrada’s major school infrastructure projects in 2016 were either new building construction, renovation, rehabilitation, repair or upgrading for the following schools:
J. C. de Jesus Elementary School
Tondo High School
J. Nolasco HS
J. P. Laurel HS
L. Avelino ES
M. Ponce ES
Bonifacio ES
J. Sumulong ES
R. Magsaysay HS
Legarda ES
M. Salvador ES
T. Yangco ES
P. Gomez ES
M. L. Quezon HS
Laong Laan ES
M. Roxas HS
Pres. Corazon C. Aquino HS
Manila Education Center
Sen. Benigno Aquino ES
A. Quezon ES
M. Marcos Memorial HS
Gen. Vicente Lim ES
P. Garcia HS
J. P. Rizal ES
G. del Pilar ES
M. Aquino ES
F. G. Calderon Integrated School (Secondary Level)
Regidor ES
E. Abada HS
Araullo HS
V. E. Fugoso HS
G. de Jesus ES
M. Hizon ES
Balagtas ES
E. Remigio ES
H. Atienza ES
F. Ma. Guerrero ES
Villamor HS
Arellano HS
Manila Science HS
P. Garcia HS
Universidad De Manila
Sergio Osmeña HS; and
Avanceña High School.