PGMA wants Aeta school moved to lower ground

BARANGAY CAMIAS, Porac, Nov. 6 (PNA) -- Amid a steady drizzle that made the soil and pebble walks very slippery, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was determined to reach the top of the hill, where an Aeta resettlement school was built in 1992.

She climbed the 97 steps leading to the hill, where hundreds of Aeta schoolchildren and their teachers awaited the President’s arrival.

On seeing her, the children screamed and chanted “GMA, GMA.”

The President rewarded their efforts by shaking their hands and posing with the teachers and parents of the children, who took out their mobile phone cameras for a quick shot.

The President discussed the barangay officials’ request for electrification of this mountainous barangay. She was also briefed on the construction of a one-classroom building that can accommodate 40 students. The 355th Airlift Engineering Wing of the Philippine Air Force is constructing the project under a P350,000 budget sourced from the Presidential Social Fund.

The 355th Wing has constructed in the whole province 15 school buildings, 13 farm-to-market roads, and three water systems. Some 22 schoolbuildings are nearing completion.

After inspecting the one-classroom building, the President talked to local executives and barangay officials here where she voiced her concern about the school being situated too high for the students and their teachers.

In her native tongue, the President said “there is hardly any house here and the students and teachers come from lower grounds. Why not transfer the school there (pointing to a low rise of the hill).”

From Camias, the Presidential convoy proceeded to Barangay San Jose, Floridablanca, where hundreds of people waited for her.