President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the newly rebuilt Dao Building and Henry Sy Sr. Hall at San Francisco High School in Quezon City showed what the government could accomplish when public funds are properly used for priority projects.
Marcos inspected the four-storey school building in Bago Bantay nearly a year after a fire left the old structure unusable and close to condemnation.
The President said the building was originally planned as a two-storey structure, but he pushed for it to be expanded to four storeys because the site could accommodate a larger facility.
“Ang pinakamaganda rin dito ay ‘yung natapos itong construction na ito in eight months,” Marcos said during the inspection.
He said the project produced 60 classrooms, a six-fold increase from the original 10 classrooms in the old building.
Marcos said the completion of the school facility in eight months demonstrated the impact of proper public spending.
“At malaking bagay ito dahil nais kong ipakita kapag ang pera ng gobyerno ay ginagamit sa tama, ito ‘yung kaya nating gawin. Kaya natin magtayo ng four storeys, 60 classrooms in eight months’ time,” he said.
The President said the new building was also equipped with a sprinkler system to help prevent another fire incident.
He noted that students were already using the new classrooms, allowing the school to stop holding double shifts.
Marcos said the additional classrooms allowed students to go home by 3 pm or 4 pm, while teachers no longer had to remain in school until 7 pm or 8 pm.
“From 10 classrooms, we have now 60 — times six. Mayroon na tayong 60 classrooms,” he said.
He said the expanded facility provided students with a more spacious learning environment and a schedule more conducive to education.
The President thanked the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Education, and the local government for working together on the project.
He said the school building should serve as proof that government projects can be completed quickly and properly when funds go directly to implementation.
“We’re working together, makita naman talaga ninyo what it is that we can achieve as long as the money goes to the project, not into people’s pockets,” Marcos said.
He added that the administration would continue ensuring that government funds are spent on projects that directly benefit the public.
“Basta’t pumasok sa proyekto nang tama, ay ganito ang ating nagagawa. Patuloy nating gagawin ‘yan at patuloy natin titiyakin na ang pondo ng pamahalaan ay napupunta sa mga proyektong kagaya nito,” Marcos said.
Marcos said he was both pleased and surprised by the speed and scale of the project, saying it was rare to see a four-storey, 60-classroom school building completed in just eight months.
“It should demonstrate very clearly what can be achieved when funding is used properly,” he said.