Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian starts his birthday week with the inauguration and blessing of Pedro L. Santiago Elementary School in Barangay Paso de Blas today, January 18, the newest public elementary school in the City.

In his annual birthday week tradition, Mayor REX’ Birthday Serbisyo Activities this year stays committed to the city’s thrust in education.

The inauguration and blessing of Pedro L. Santiago Elementary School in Barangay Paso de Blas serve as Valenzuela City’s 69^th school and its 43^rd public elementary school. The school was named after Pedro L. Santiago who hails from Paso de Blas in his service not only with his time but also with his resources, leading to the donation of a parcel of land for the building of the school.

The entire area of P. Santiago Street in Barangay Paso de Blas was owned by Pedro L. Santiago in the late 1940s. Later on, the parcel of the land was donated by Pedro Santiago’s son-in-law, Felix Valenzuela, where the Paso de Blas Elementary School is located at P. Santiago Street in Barangay Paso de Blas now stands.

Mayor REX in his speech said that Valenzuela City is taking investments and getting ready for the future of the students believing that the pandemic will not stay as permanent and students will soon be back in school for there are vaccines that are being prepared.

He also added that the location of Pedro Santiago Elementary School is a catchment area between Paso de Blas’ eastside and westside. It is perfectly located as Andres Mariano Elementary School is for the Barangay Bagbaguin community, Paso de Blas Elementary School for Paso de Blas westside, and Pedro L. Santiago is for the Paso de Blas eastside community.

Lastly, Mayor REX intensifies the importance of education by saying, “Tayo sa Valenzuela City, hindi tayo titigil mamuhunan sa edukasyon. May pandemya man, patuloy tayong mag-iinvest para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak.”

A representative from the Santiago family, Mr. Roberto Santiago, is also present to affirm the history of their family and to express their support to Mayor REX’s Birthday Serbisyo Activities.

Since the start of the Valenzuela 360 Degrees Investment program, the number of schools is doubled and more facilities are being built up – going beyond the gravel and sand solution for school infrastructure but also making sure that education is indeed, a “360-degrees approach”.