THIRTY-eight elementary and high schools in the third district have received equipment for speech and science laboratories to improve both the teaching and learning of English and science.

Only two and a half years into the term of Cong. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, 14 elementary schools and 13 high schools in the six municipalities and one city in the third district became recipients of computers and software as teaching aids under the congressman’s information and communication technology project.

Fifteen high schools in Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan and Toledo City also received test tubes, … and other science laboratory equipment in 2009.

Both the information and communication technology and science laboratory projects form part of PJ’s “Primero ang Tersero” program which focuses on education as a means to improve the livelihood of the district’s residents. It is also aims to address the difficulties teachers and students alike face in everyday school life.

The problem on education was highlighted by achievement tests in recent years in which students in a number of elementary and night high schools in the district got the lowest scores in Region 7.

“Dili maka-angayon nga ang atong mga kabataan dili makakab-ot sa maayong edukasyon tungod lamang sa kawad-on,” said PJ on his Primero sa Tersero program.

“Ang pamilya sa akong amahan pobre kaayo pero tungod sa iyang kadasig sa pagtuon ug pagkab-ot sa taas nga edukasyon, nakahatag siya ug maayong kinabuhi sa iyang mga anak. Mao nga panahon na sad nga among ibalik kini ngadto sa mga batan-on karon isip pasalamat,” PJ said further.

PJ’s father is Cong. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s second district. Pablo is a lawyer and bar topnotcher, like PJ himself. Among PJ’s siblings are Gov. Gwen Garcia, Cebu’s first woman governor and GSIS President and General Manager Winston Garcia, also a lawyer.

Local officials and teachers in the third district are grateful for the equipment that have been distributed. Ruel Mag-aso, a teacher at the Colonia National High School in Tuburan, said, “Ang speech lab nga nadawat sa among eskwelahan dako kaayo ug ikatabang sa among mga estudyante labi na karon nga daghan kaayo kahigayonan nga makatrabaho sa mga call center.”

Teachers are also benefiting from the congressman’s program. “Nakatabang sab na sa atoang mga teachers. Gani karon, sa among in-service training, gamiton namo ang speech lab. Naa na man gani gi-schedule si Congressman nga training for call center alang namo,” Mag-aso added.

Meanwhile, Mayor Constancio “Boyet” Suezo III of Tuburan said the science laboratory equipment that have been distributed have energized science teaching in their schools. “Sige na karon ug apil-apil ug science quizzes ang mga estudyante sa Putat National High School,” he noted.

The Tuburan National High School also received science lab equipment from PJ.//