LIMITED budget allocation from government has always hampered efforts of schools at making quality education a reality and has led to shortages of teachers, classrooms, books and other learning facilities.

Despite such limitations, the city government of Dagupan intends to give utmost priority to education, it was stressed at an educators’ forum in the city last Tuesday and Wednesday by Brian S. Lim, newly designated chief of staff of Mayor Benjamin S. Lim.

“Let me assure you that the city government is behind you in this endeavor. We are constantly seeking ways to increase our income for us to be able to increase our special education fund (SEF),” the younger Lim said at the Dagupan City Educators Congress held at the City Astrodome.

Some years ago, the SEF amounted to only P14 million. Now it has increased to P28 million, according to Lim.

He added the present administration is finalizing plans for the construction of a modern public library building that will likely be situated at the West Central Elementary School compound, where the old Teacher’s Memorial Building and the local Red Cross office used to stand.

Aside from equipping the library with thousands of reading materials and computer, the mayor added that he plans to set up computer softwares in the library’s multimedia room where anybody can have a free speech training on foreign languages.

He said that this will benefit those who are interested in working abroad like in Italy, Japan, Spain, among others.

To carry out the task, Lim has created the Dagupan City library management committee composed of executives from the culture and education sector.

It was learned that Brian Lim, the mayor’s chief of staff, a recent addition to the committee, spearheaded a one-day library tour in Manila on January 26 to make sure that the construction of the library will conform with the current designs and technological trends.

“Nothing is more noble than investing on the future of our country by teaching and educating our children,” Lim declared.

The event, organized by Dep-Ed-Dagupan, under city schools division superintendent Aurora Domingo, gathered some 1,200 participants composed of public teachers, school heads, supervisors, Parents-Teachers Community Association officers and non-governmental organizations. (CIO/Leizel T. Cayabyab)