Joey Pavia / Correspondent
ANGELES CITY—Members of the city council recently approved a resolution commending Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. for funding the construction of classrooms in two public high schools here.
This, according to Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, who initiated the passing of the resolution. She added that it was sponsored by councilors Max Sangil and Alex Indiongco. “We are one with Pagcor, led by Chairman Naguiat, in making public education a significant one, especially for the less-fortunate Angeles City folk,” said Cabigting, who distributed bags, books, ballpens and sandals to public-school students since she first became vice mayor in 2007.
Naguiat, who is a native of this city, gave P19.9 million for the construction of nine classrooms at the Bonifacio V. Romero High School in Barangay Pulung Cacutud.
He earlier released at least P36 million for the construction of classrooms at the Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School in Barangay Pandan, Angeles City. Naguiat said Pagcor allotted P7 billion in 2014 for the improvement of the facilities at public schools in the country. Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and his son, Councilor Edu Pamintuan, graced the ground-breaking ceremony at the Bonifacio Romero High School. “Improving education has been the priority of the city government. We want to thank Pagcor,” Pamintuan said.
“We hope that education be improved not just in the city, but in the entire country,” added the mayor in his speech.
Edgardo Nunag, school principal at the Bonifacio Romero High School, said they need 18 classrooms for their 1,230 students. “We only need nine classrooms after the Pagcor-funded classrooms are done,” he said.