₱14-M Gym Boosts School, Community in Antique

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TOBIAS FORNIER, ANTIQUE — A new ₱14.7-million multi-purpose gymnasium at Concepcion L. Cazañas Memorial School is now serving as a vital hub for school functions, sports activities, and emergency response in Barangay Abaca and surrounding areas.

Completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Antique District Engineering Office, the 935.64-square-meter facility was funded through the FY 2024 Annual Infrastructure Program and built by Eon Construction & Supply.

“This gymnasium boasts amenities such as basketball court, stage, public toilets for males, females, and persons with disabilities (PWD), an airconditioned office room, a storage room, and an electrical room, providing students and teachers with a dedicated venue for various school and sports activities, enhancing their educational experience,” said OIC-District Engineer Bernadeth Betsy B. Uy in her report to Regional Director Sanny Boy O. Oropel.

The structure offers a weather-resistant, multi-use space that will serve both the school population and the broader community in southern Antique.

DE Uy emphasized that the gymnasium is not just an educational asset but also a disaster-resilient structure that can be used during emergencies.

“Other than being a venue for sports and school activities, this building may be utilized as venue for local activities of the neighboring barangays, as well as temporary evacuation center during calamities and disasters and other emergency situations,” Uy added.

The gym is part of DPWH’s broader mandate to deliver resilient and inclusive public infrastructure across the country.

Beyond roads and flood control systems, the agency continues to build community-oriented structures that support education, safety, and social development.

For Concepcion L. Cazañas Memorial School, the facility is expected to foster student engagement through organized sports, school programs, and community-building events.

The investment also reflects growing national efforts to align infrastructure projects with climate resilience and inclusive access, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. (DPWH)