DepEd Leyte Convention Center soon to rise

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 12, 2005

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – Soon to rise at the Department of Education Leyte Division Compound is the DepEd Leyte Division Convention Center. This was learned from Leyte Division Superintendent Aurora Villarente during the groundbreaking ceremonies held yesterday.

Mrs. Villarente said that the convention center will cost about twelve million pesos. The first phase is funded from the two million pesos donation from the Province of Leyte through Governor Jericho Petilla and one million pesos from Congresswoman Remedios L. Petilla. The Leyte division compound she revealed stands on a 1 hectare lot which the Province of Leyte allowed to be used through usufruct.

The Convention Center is very necessary structure considering the many sports activities, trainings and conventions which the Division is undertaking. It will in the long run save money which the division spends in the private venues used for its activities. It will also be a fund raising venture as it will be allowed for a fee to be used for the various functions of other government agencies or private individuals, Superintendent Villarente added.

She said that the Leyte Division is able to pilot programs to enhance learning and academic excellence because it has government partners like Congresswoman Petilla, Governor Petilla and the local government Executives and from partners coming from the private sector like the Filipino Chinese Chamber of commerce and Industry and California Energy.

The Leyte Division Compound sits the two-storey administration building, a dormitory for transient teachers and guests, a library and museum, a child-minding building and the building for the Alternative Learning System.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Provincial Board Members Rowil Bathan and Vangie Esperas, Tanauan Mayor Roque A. Tiu, Tourism Director Karen Tiopes, PIA’s Olive Tiu and the Leyte Division officials and schools administrators.