ILOILO City – In a bid to ease classroom congestion and modernize learning environments for new academic year 2025-2026, the city government has fast-tracked the turnover of two newly completed “Uswag” school buildings to public elementary schools this June.
On June 13, a three-storey, 12-classroom building was officially turned over to Tabucan Elementary School in Mandurriao district, just days before the June 16 start of classes.
Earlier this month, a two-storey, 10-classroom building was also handed over to Baluarte Elementary School in Molo district.
Funded through the Special Education Fund (SEF) — sourced from 1% of the city’s Real Property Tax collections — the school buildings are part of Iloilo City’s continuing investment in education infrastructure. Each classroom comes with its own comfort room, a feature aimed at promoting hygiene and learner comfort.
“These buildings are symbols of our commitment to providing learners with dignity and a quality learning environment,” the city government said in a statement.
Initiated in 2023, the “Uswag” classroom program targets the city’s growing student population and seeks to eliminate overcrowding in public schools by expanding classroom capacity.
Beyond infrastructure, the city also supports the operational needs of public schools by covering expenses for electricity, water, internet, utility workers, and even city-paid teaching personnel.
“In every building we construct, we build a stronger future for our youth,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas, reiterating the city’s drive toward inclusive and quality education./PN
