Fri | July 13, 2018 | 10:10 PM

School administrators and students of Florencio R. Sibayan Central Elementary School in Butuan City proudly pose in front of the newly-built three-storey, 18-classroom building donated by PAGCOR.

The symbolic key is passed by PAGCOR VP for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc to (from left) Butuan City Councilor Cherry May Busa and Lorwina Fontanilla (representing Butuan and Las Nieves Cong. Lawrence Fortun). Looking on are (from right) DepEd Butuan Division officials Michael Madria and Israel Reveche.

A PUBLIC elementary school in Butuan proudly became the first recipient of brand new classrooms from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in the city as the agency formally turned over a modern learning facility recently.

Florencio R. Sibayan Central Elementary School (FRSCES), a public school in Baan Kilometer 3, Butuan City, formally received the three-storey, 18-classroom PAGCOR school building that will benefit a total of 600 pupils from Grades Two to Six.

The PAGCOR building boasts of spacious and well-ventilated classrooms, comfort rooms in every floor and other handicapped-friendly features. It is the first of its kind to be built in the city.

“We are very fortunate and blessed to be chosen as the first recipient of this PAGCOR school building in Butuan City. This facility is an answered prayer because for the longest time, we have wished for additional classrooms that will make learning comfortable for our pupils,” said FRSCES Principal Ma. Ligaya Joyo.

Joyo related that prior to the construction of the PAGCOR building, they only had 18 classrooms for over 800 students from Kindergarten to Grade Six. This situation forced them to hold two shifts of classes per day. But even with double shift, some classrooms were congested with up to 50 pupils.

“It was such a pitiful sight. But with inadequate classrooms to accommodate all our pupils, we just had to endure the difficulties. Now, we’re seeing a totally different picture as we’re being greeted by happy and contented faces every day. Lahat masaya kasi maginhawa na ang kanilang pag-aaral at hindi na siksikan sa mga classroom,” she narrated.

With its new school building, FRSCES can now hold whole day classes in all grade levels.

The turnover ceremony of the new classrooms was graced by PAGCOR VP for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc and representatives from the city government and the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Butuan.