NOLI OPENS SCHOOL, HEALTH CENTER IN STA. ROSA RELOCATION SITE
August 1, 2008

Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro led the opening rites of the new elementary school and health center of the Sta. Rosa relocation site in Laguna yesterday (July 31).

During the simple ceremonies, De Castro said the new facilities are part of the government's continuing effort to provide the basic needs of the relocatees such as education and health care.

"Now that there is already a school near your houses, you no longer have reasons not to send your children to school," De Castro said.

A strong advocate of education, De Castro has been urging parents in various government relocation sites to prioritize education for their children as he believes that it is the only way to fight poverty in the country.

A few meters from the three storey school is the newly-built health center that was constructed by the contractor of the resettlement area as required by De Castro to ensure that health care is given to the former railway families.

Some 1,500 former railway families from Manila, Taguig and Sta. Rosa have already settled in the 19.87 hectare relocation site with complete drainage, sewerage, water and power supply systems.

De Castro's visit to Sta. Rosa coincided with the birthday celebration of City Mayor Arlene Arcillas who vowed to support HUDCC's programs aimed at uplifitng the plight of the poor families.

Earlier, De Castro inspected two relocation sites in Binan, Laguna where he discussed with Binan Mayor Len Alonte ways to ensure the proper relocation of in-coming railway families from Manila and Muntinlupa.

home   |   Press Release main page   |