12 Cebu LGUs ink deal with RAFI for construction of 218 classrooms

By Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
September 20, 2014

CEBU CITY – The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and 12 local government units (LGUs) of Cebu yesterday (September 19) entered into an agreement for the repair and construction of 218 classrooms that would benefit an estimated 9,800 students.

The classrooms include those in schools in towns severely hit by super typhoon Yolanda last November 8.

Aside from building classrooms, RAFI would also assist the LGUs and the Department of Education in school governance.

“The challenge is not on fixing the school buildings anymore. What we need is to prepare the students so that they can compete,” said RAFI President Roberto Aboitiz, adding that there is also a need to build the character, competence, and citizenship of the students.

He likewise exhorted the LGUs to maintain the same enthusiasm in partnering with RAFI in this project.

Mayors and or the representatives of the towns of Alcoy, Aloguinsan, Asturias, Bantayan, Barili, Borbon, Carcar, Naga, Madridejos, Samboan, San Remigio, Sibonga signed separate agreements with RAFI for the P144-million school rehabilitation project (SRP), as a continuing commitment to provide the school children with a safer and more conducive learning environment.

As stipulated in the agreement, the 12 LGUs were expected to provide funds for manpower requirements as counterpart for the rehabilitation of their schools, among other obligations.

The 12 LGUs have also committed to assume full responsibility of the actual implementation and execution, from inception to completion, of the rehabilitation works, in accordance with the project terms of reference and of the SRP.

RAFI, on the other hand, would commit to extend assistance to the LGUs through the provision of construction materials based on the approved scope of works, program of works, and bill of materials.

Speaking on behalf of the other LGUs, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante thanked RAFI for the assistance in repairing and constructing classrooms in his town. He also requested that the foundation help his town in the successful implementation of the K-12 program in 2016.

In the same event, RAFI also honored three municipalities for their active participation in RAFI’s SRP.

The local government units of Asturias, Tuburan, and Bantayan were recognized after being able to rehabilitate more than 50 classrooms (Asturias, Tuburan) and more than 100 classrooms (Bantayan) affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

“By having this recognition, we would like to show the public that these LGUs that are actually helping and are really prioritizing education by partnering with us in this endeavor, in this school rehab,” said Anton Dignadice, RAFI Education Development Unit executive director.

The recognition was meant to highlight the efforts and contributions of RAFI’s SRP partners and to encourage participation and partnership of the local stakeholders in the foundation’s projects.

“In RAFI, one of our key attributes is collaboration. In everything that we do, including promoting education we always involve partners; we always try to engage the stakeholders. They are really a key element in the success of the project and so, we would like to recognize those partners who have actually helped us in ensuring the success of the project,” said Dignadice.

He said that the citations mean that the three municipalities have partnered with RAFI for a certain time and that they provided counterpart funding for SRP.