Donations to save P’sinan school pour in

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan, Philippines – Local leaders, private individuals and groups have pledged to donate P1.4 million and 1,050 armchairs for pupils displaced by the relocation of the Bayambang Central School (BCS) in Barangay Bical here.

Former Pangasinan fifth district congressman Mark Cojuangco committed to give P1 million from his personal funds for the Save Bayambang Central School while the Samahang Industriya at Agrikultura  (SINAG) led by Rosendo So pledged to donate P400,000.

The P1.4-million fund will be used to repair classrooms that were neglected when the about 2,000 pupils of BCS were transferred to a new but temporary school site.

Other donors – including Sen. Cynthia Villar, former Pangasinan third district congresswoman Rachel Arenas and her mother Rep. Rosemarie Arenas and SINAG chairman emeritus Durian Tan – promised to give 200 armchairs each, while 50 armchairs each will come from DCS Trading, Samson Agri, a certain Munoz Macam, Maring Agri, Sharon Tan from Foremost Farm and an anonymous donor.

So said the immediate move to save the school came after the owner of a temporary school site gave an ultimatum for the teachers and pupils to vacate the place.

Filipinas Alcantara, president of Parents–Teachers Community Association, sought So’s and Cojuangco’s help on the matter.