Lacson takes DepEd to task in repairing destroyed Quirino public school building
Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to fix one of its elementary school buildings in Nagtipunan town, which was ‘totally destroyed’ in the wake of one of the severe tropical storms that hit Quirino province recently.
Lacson mentioned this in his town hall meeting with residents from the neighboring municipality of Maddela last Wednesday (March 16). Before going to that forum, he paid a courtesy call on provincial Governor Dakila Carlo ‘Dax’ Cua, who informed him of this problem.
“Naidaing sa akin ni Governor Dax na may problema ang eskwelahan, na hindi maipagawa, pinapasa raw ng DepEd sa local government unit. E wala naman sigurong pantustos ‘yung local government unit,” Lacson said, referring to a public school located in Barangay San Pugo, Nagtipunan.
According to Lacson, who prides himself on being a sharp analyst of the General Appropriations Act, the DepEd has been allocated a budget intended for the restoration of its typhoon-ravaged school facilities. This is on top of the funds earmarked for its last-mile school programs.
“So, huwag kayong mag-alala mga taga-Nagtipunan dahil, harinawa, mapakinggan ‘yung ating pakiusap dahil kami makikiusap lamang at alam naming may pondo. Kaya malamang maipapagawa na po ‘yung inyong paaralan na nasira doon sa San Pugo,” Lacson assured.
“I-fo-follow up po namin ito at ito’y hindi namin titigilan nang kaka-follow up hanggang sa magpadala sila ng maggagawa rito. We will follow it up and we won’t stop making follow ups (on this request) until they (DepEd) send people here to fix (that school building),” the presidential candidate added.
Meanwhile, Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III reiterated their commitment to properly implement the laws of our land should they both emerge successful in their respective 2022 electoral bids.
The presidential duo made the pledge to address the concerns of persons with disabilities (PWD) and the solo parents who also approached them during their town hall forums in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, which they visited earlier this week.
Lacson said they acknowledge the criticisms raised by a PWD representative in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, who pointed out that for some reason the Republic Act 10070 or the amended ‘Magna Carta for Disabled Persons’ Law is not working well for their sector.
The law mandated the creation of a Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) in every province, city and municipality. Yet, according to the concerned PWD in Cagayan, some of these PDAOs were not functioning because there was no one around to attend to their problems.
Sotto, for his part, told a single parent in Cauayan City, Isabela that individuals raising children on their own are entitled to receive discounts on their purchases as well as other benefits and privileges due them under Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000.
Lacson said that if he and Sotto win as the next president and vice-president respectively, they would ensure that the laws intended for the benefit of marginalized sectors in our society would be executed accordingly with proper funding from the government under their administration.
