PGMA: Don't require schoolchildren to wear uniforms
IBAJAY, AKLAN—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday directed the Department of Education (DepEd) to allow 6-year-old school children to enroll this school year even without uniforms to bring more children to the classrooms.
The President said this would lessen the burden on the children's parents and boost the enrollment of young children.
"We want to make sure that all our children go to school especially our 6-year-olds because our statistics show that majority of our 6-year-olds are at home. They don't go to school," the President said in a speech during the inauguration of the P207-million bridge funded by both the Philippine and United Kingdom governments in Barangay Palo here, around 35 km north of the capital town of Kalibo.
"We want to make it as small a burden as possible on parents to send their children to school. Just like in the US and in many parts of Europe, we should not require children to wear uniforms," she said before around 1,000 residents and officials who flocked to the ceremony.
The President had earlier directed government schools to freeze tuition and other school fees to lessen the impact of higher prices of rice, basic commodities and oil products. She also appealed to private schools to do the same.
Ms Arroyo said the government will continue to invest on social services and infrastructure projects like health care, education, roads, bridges and ports because "physical and human infrastructure remains central to the ability of our nation to break the historic cycle of despair and to prepare to meet the challenges of the future."
The government will spend around P200 billion on infrastructure this year as part of the Medium Term Public Investment Program to upgrade the country's competitiveness and create more jobs, according to the President.
The new bridge in Ibajay spans around 246 meters and replaced the the existing reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridge built before World War II along the national highway and leading to the Caticlan port in Malay town, the jump off point to the world-famous Boracay Island.
The steel materials costing around P68.7 million was funded by the UK government while civil works costing P138.6 million was provided by the Philippine government. Construction started on January 1, 2006 and completed on May 25 this year.
The President said the bridge is among the 242 steel bridges to be constructed in the country under soft loan of P1 billion and another P560 million in grants by the UK government.
UK Ambassador Peter Beckingham, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane
Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and his wife Ibajay Mayor Maria Lourdes Miraflores joined the President in the inauguration rites.
The President said the bridge "serves as the gateway to Boracay from Panay."
She said the project is in line with the Super Regions Plan, which provides for the development of five major regions to spread development away from Manila to the regions.
The President proceeded to Masbate after having lunch at the Miraflores' residence.