In Tanauan City, Batangas, Mayor Sonny Perez Collantes often says, “Sa Lungsod ng Tanauan, hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kawalan upang makatapos ng pag-aaral ang mga kabataan at maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap,” and that thought drives every piece of his education plan.
After taking a close look at what the students truly needed, he quickly set to work; in under two years, his administration built thirty-two (32) new public-school buildings—roughly 224 classrooms—and fitted each room with glass boards, study chairs, and even interactive learning gadgets, so children could study with pride and confidence.
Every back-to-school season, flexible uniforms are given away for free, along with school supplies and bags. With a child-to-book ratio of 1:1, the books for child development learners are likewise free in this respect.
The DepEd Philippines’ 2023 Basic Education Report states that one of the most urgent problems facing the education sector is the state of school facilities and infrastructure. Out of 327,851 school buildings in the country, 89,252 require major repairs, 21,727 are scheduled for condemnation, and 100,072 require minor repairs.
A suitable learning environment for children is crucial as it fosters academic success, student engagement, and general well-being. The local government’s initiative on this issue is noteworthy.
Under Mayor Sonny’s leadership, gymnasium repairs were made, the renovation of Tanauan public schools’ main facilities accelerated, and DepEd Tanauan City was actively consulted in order to stay up to date.
A 400 million annual increase in the special education fund was made possible by the LGU’s proactive measures and active support from Mayor Sonny. As a result, students excelled in a number of areas, especially academics, career training, and sports.
His administration is continuously working to ensure that all public schools in the City of Tanauan have sufficient and high-quality facilities during his tenure in office. A well-kept classroom for the children is the first step in this crucial stage of forming the next generation.
The Tanauan City Government’s Educational Assistance Program has received recognition in addition to infrastructure support. In the two years since Mayor Sonny took office, the number of scholars has increased to over 50,000, the highest number in the city’s history, compared to just over 1,000 during previous administrations.
Focusing on a seamless transition from student to professional is also essential—educational experts, following ten (10) years of implementing the K-12 Program, have highlighted the critical link between education and employment, from early childhood development to the ability to work.
In order to achieve Mayor Sonny’s vision of a city where every family has high aspirations and poverty should not stand in the way of attaining them, the City of Tanauan must guarantee that every young person completes their education and has enough opportunities and jobs to keep them away from bad habits. The administration is moving in this direction in terms of education, accessible education, an active sports sector, and enough opportunities and means of subsistence.