Risa of AKBAYAN Wows Pili

Pili, Camarines Sur  – Ms. Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson of AKBAYAN shares some light moments during the gathering of Pili Networkers and  DSWD Day Care workers at the Pili Municpal covered court last September 14. The gathering was attended by Under Secretary Ibarra Gutierrez, III, Malacañang Office of the Political Affairs, Pili Municipal Mayor Tomas Bongalonta, Vice Mayor Ronald Boclot, SB members Camano and Belen, and an estimated 300 networkers and Day Care Workers.

 Ms. Hontiveros echoed Malacañang’s commitment of providing better health and educational programs especially for the women and children. She informed the gathering that Pres. PNoy Aquino is serious in improving the existing programs that will empower the women sector and improving the educational system to make the youth of the country more globally competitive.

According to her staff, Ms. Hontiveros, a former Party List Congresswoman for AKBAYAN, is a Bicolana. Ms. Risa is running for the Senate under the Liberal Party Wing for the 2013 elections.

A group of parents of the School of the Future (SOF) of Brgy. San Jose, Pili, hand delivered a letter to Ms. Hontiveros regarding the school’s electrical power. Disconnected for almost five years, SOF has been tapping electrical power from neighboring buildings inside the Freedom Stadium of Camarines Sur, formerly known as Marcos Stadium.

SOF is a premier public elementary school that has continuously produced outstanding graduates over the years. According to the letter, the accumulated electrical bill of the school to CASURECO II is nearing the figure of 1M. The electrical bill problem has ballooned over the years because the Provincial government has stopped its previous commitment of paying the monthly electrical bills of the school. This premier school, a showcase of state-of-the-art computer learning center for children was established through the efforts Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte when he was then the Governor of the province. During his term then, it was the province who footed the electric bill of the school. This has not been the case since Gov. LRay F. Villafuerte took over as governor of the province in 2004. LRay is the son of Cong. Luis R. Villafuerte.  

The school administration and PTA officers are seeking all possible collaborative means to address the electrical problem. Vice Governor Ato C. Peña of the province has promised the school administration that the Provincial Panlalawigan will do their best to resolve the problem. In the meantime, it remains black-out for the students and faculty of SOF.