Gov. Gwen Garcia, with Congressman Pablo John Garcia, leads the ceremonial distribution of school supplies to public school pupils of the third district of Cebu at the Toledo City Sports Center today, November 7.
The activity was one of the highlights of the first of the final ten Caravans of Provincial Government Services for the year 2023.
DepEd Cebu Province has identified some 163,540 enrolled public school students in the district — from Kinder, elementary, junior high school, and senior high school — who will receive the said school supplies from the Capitol.
Such school supplies include, among others, school bags, pad paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, crayons, envelopes; as well as T-shirt and Crocs sandals.
This year, the Capitol, through the Provincial School Board headed by Gov. Gwen, allocated around P287 Million for the school supplies.
It more than doubles last year’s allocation, as DepEd’s enrollment has also grown, which now stands at over 878,000 learners province-wide.
Department of Education Region 7 Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez thanked the Capitol for its continued care and support for the Cebuano studentry.
The governor was joined by Board Members Tata Corominas-Toribio and Doc Stanley Caminero, as well as third district mayors headed by the host mayor of Toledo City, Mayor Marjorie Perales.
Launched during Gov. Gwen’s first three terms, the school supplies distribution has helped eased financial burdens on the side of parents by providing Gov. Gwen’s “most favorite Cebuanos” with the things they need in school. | Babie Jane Revecoy