THE CITY government of Manila on Monday held groundbreaking ceremony for a new school building at the Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Vice Mayor Ma. Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna Pangan led the ceremony.

The P2-billion-building will have 234 classrooms, 16 offices, a library, canteen, auditorium, gym, roof deck, two basketball courts, seven stairs and 10 elevators.

Domagoso said the project aims to innovate the public education system in the city.

“Ito ang pangako namin sa lahat ng Batang Maynila sa pagpapaunlad ng ating mga pasilidad sa mga pampublikong paaralan. Building this school is our way of strengthening the public school system in the city and at the same time addressing the problem of teacher-student ratio,” he said.

Despite the pandemic, the mayor vowed that education will remain one of the city’s top priorities.

“Kahit na patuloy tayong sinusubok ng pandemya, hindi namin kakalimutan ang education sector. Today is a testament to you. Patuloy nating palalakasin ang ating public education system,” he said.

“Patuloy naming sisikaping maging mainam, masinop, at episyenteng mga lingkod bayan. We will continue to address the concern of our teachers and the future generation which is our students,” he added.

Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School is among the three schools in Manila undergoing modernization. The other two schools are the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo and Manila Science High School in Taft Avenue.