Brighter Days Ahead for Murcia Rural School

Optimism radiates from students and teachers of a rural secondary school in Murcia after Mayor Gerry Rojas inaugurated and turned over recently its first building, and further pledged to address its urgent concerns and support its continued growth.

Mayor Rojas, Vice-Mayor Johnny Reosura and SB Members turned over the building at Purok Tumpok, Brgy. Damsite to Department of Education officials headed by Negros Occidental Schools Division Supt. Gladys Amelaine Sales, Asst. SDS Enjenette Baroa, Murcia District Supervisors Roselyn Lanuza and Erna Dogelio, and teachers and students of the Murcia National High School – Tumpok Extension.

The structure is made up of two classrooms and a multi-purpose room as wide as two classrooms, which can be utilized as faculty room, administrative office and library.

Construction was funded entirely by municipal funds thru the Local School Board. Fifty-four students from Grade 7 to Grade 11 are enrolled in the school, which is located in the midst of rolling farm lands accessible only from Brgy. Feliza, Bacolod City.

“We will be building eight more classrooms here. Two classrooms will be funded by the local school board from next year’s budget, and we will request funding for two more classrooms each from the offices of Congressman Javi Benitez, Abang Lingkod Cong. Manman Ko and Gov. Bong Lacson,” the mayor stated.

“We made representations for the installation of electric service to the school, and we will soon set up the water system. As to the unpaved road which turns muddy during rainy days, we will ask Cong. Javi to include the road concreting project in his next year’s budget. For the meantime, we will use Murcia’s heavy equipment to immediately improve the road for the convenience of our students and teachers here,” he added.

School officials disclosed that electric service was supposed to be installed as early as November last year, but Typhoon Tino severely damaged the poles and electrical fixtures, thus delaying the installation.

“It took us some time to construct this building for our high school students because our elementary school campus, where we used to hold classes for our high school students, belongs to a private entity. The municipality and even the DepEd can’t spend public funds on private property,” Mayor Rojas explained.

“Since I assumed office, I negotiated to transfer the property under the municipality’s name, but the private owners have other plans. Fortunately, Miss Leticia Benares donated this one hectare property to Murcia, allowing us to construct this building. Now that we have this structure, we will work for the school’s continued growth and, considering its proximity to farm lands, aim to transform it into a farm school,” he said.*