Sagay expands classrooms for nearly 5,000 learners

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Sagay City government in Negros Occidental is expanding learning spaces at Sagay National High School to serve around 4,800 students and reduce the school’s reliance on makeshift classrooms.

The new building is expected to ease overcrowding and give students and teachers safer, more suitable spaces for learning as enrollment continues to grow.

Second District Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III led Thursday’s groundbreaking for the PHP 90-million, three-story building containing 18 classrooms.

The project is being implemented in partnership with Okada Foundation Inc.

Construction is expected to be completed within one year.

Marañon said the project emerged from discussions with Okada Foundation about two years ago.

The foundation’s president personally visited Sagay and inspected the proposed site before deciding to support the construction.

“We are fortunate to have this project. We have many dreams for Sagay National High School because this is our central high school,” Marañon said as he acknowledged the need for more classrooms and facilities.

The donation was previously recorded in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s 2024 annual report, which listed the PHP 90-million, 18-classroom facility among Okada Foundation’s education initiatives. PAGCOR

Marañon said discussions with school officials also identified the need for workshops and spaces supporting arts, theater, music, sports and other programs.

He shared Sagay’s longer-term aspiration of establishing an auditorium where students could hold performances and other school activities.

“When you dream and you work for those dreams, they can become reality. This is one of those opportunities,” the lawmaker said.

Marañon encouraged students to study diligently, listen to their teachers and make full use of the facilities being provided.

SNHS Principal Jerson Donasco expressed hope that the students occupying makeshift classrooms would be transferred to the new building.

The school currently has 12 sections holding classes in temporary classrooms.

Donasco thanked the city government, Department of Education officials and Okada Foundation for moving the long-awaited project closer to completion.

Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent Dannie Clark Uguil said the building would do more than address the classroom shortage.

Uguil said the facility would provide a place where learners could pursue their aspirations and teachers could better facilitate learning.

Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva said the school’s increasing enrollment reflected the confidence that families placed in the quality of education at SNHS.

Cueva said the enrollment growth also created a responsibility to continually expand the school’s facilities.

He thanked Marañon for helping secure the partnership with Okada Foundation.

Cueva said the 18 new classrooms would significantly ease the school’s space shortage.

“We are fortunate that we have partners in the national government and the private sector who help us address these needs,” Cueva said.

The mayor urged students to maximize the educational opportunities provided to them.

He also expressed hope that construction would proceed as scheduled so students could use the classrooms by the next school year.

Speaking for Vice Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., Councilor Benson Fernandez said the growing student population required sustained investment in classrooms and other facilities.

Fernandez said SNHS also served students from neighboring Escalante City and Toboso.

The school also offers specialized courses, including the Special Program in Sports.

During the groundbreaking activity, the Schools Division of Sagay City turned over 246 lapel pins to the junior and senior high school teachers of SNHS.