While expressing deep sorrow over the fire, the principal of San Francisco High School in Quezon City expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his personal attention and support to the school’s immediate reconstruction.
Wearing a hard hat, President Marcos on Wednesday personally inspected the SFHS in Misamis Street, Barangay Sto. Cristo, Bago Bantay and instructed government agencies to reconstruct the building immediately.
Assisted by a fire officer, the President entered one of the classrooms that still contained charred laptops, books, chairs, and desks.
SFHS Principal Marissa Nava-Rodriguez became emotional as she thanked President Marcos for personally visiting fire-hit classrooms, saying his presence gave hope to those affected.
“Noong dumating po siya (President Marcos), para bang sabi ko nga at least one part of myself na-realize ko na in every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. Talagang patotoo po ngayon ‘yun,” Nava-Rodriguez said.
“Maraming, maraming salamat po. Hindi po matatawaran po ‘yung presensya ninyo na nakipag-simpatya po kayo sa amin. Nakidamay po ay malaking bagay na po,” she added.
Quick assistance
President Marcos directed Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara to provide immediate assistance to teachers affected by the June 15 fire.
SFHS has a total of 720 students this school year.
The fire occurred a day before the June 16 opening of classes.
President Marcos also directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to rebuild the damaged building into a four-story facility.
Damaged school supplies and instructional materials will also be replaced.
Nava-Rodriguez expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government for its prompt response and assistance.
“Immediate naman po ang pagtulong po ng DepEd. Noong nasabi po namin during the interview na wala po kaming silya, nagpadala po kaagad sila ng silya,” the principal said.
A DepEd report estimated the damage caused by the fire at around PhP3 million. The damage included eight rooms with 360 armchairs, 32 orbit fans, 96 light fixtures, 29 teacher tables and chairs, and around 150 bundles of junior high school learning materials.
Two non-academic rooms were also damaged, resulting in the loss of teachers’ personal belongings and computer sets. I PND
