on Fri, 10/21/2016

Bringing government closer to people and the people closer to government.

This was the case when Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino and Congressman Alfredo “Albee” Benitez visited Barangay Alegria in Murcia yesterday (October 20) for a dialogue at the Alegria Elementary School to get a first hand brief of the state of the public elementary and high schools in the area.

Sen. Bam Aquino and Cong. Albee Benitez, 3rd District-Negros Occ. at the Alegria Elementary School in Barangay Alegria, Murcia - in a dialogue with municipal, barangay and school representatives while inspecting classrooms.*

The meeting was attended by Murcia Vice-Mayor Gerardo Rojas, Alegria Punong Barangay Teresita Macaron, DepEd NIR Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amylane Sales, DPWH District Engineer Jaime Javellana, Alegria Elementary School Principal Norberto Vallente, Alegria National High School Principal Lelanie Rivera, and Murcia National High School Principal Joel Samodio.

Also present were Janet Espinosa, Academic Affairs Vice-President of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College who presented a tie-up program with the Murcia secondary schools and Rotaract official Dr. Cris Sorongon who turned over a set of books as donation to the Alegria National High School.

Senator Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Education spoke on priority programs for educational development among them free tuition at state universities and colleges, “trabaho centers” for senior high schools all over the country, strengthening the Alternative Learning System, more benefits for teachers, and to address the dire need for more school buildings.

Congressman Benitez who authored the Cyber-Education bill in the 16th Congress, stressed his priority attention to bring the e-classroom or classroom of the future to as many public schools not only in his district but also beyond, to enable more young people better access to opportunities in the highly competitive global workplace.

Both legislators engaged participants in a lively exchange of situationers and current pressing concerns in teaching and learning. Also in attendance were some Murcia councilors, representatives of pupil and student governments, parents, teachers and other barangay leaders.*