DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — The proposed establishment of a national high school in the northernmost part of the province will benefit thousands of indigent students, according to 1st District Provincial Coordinator Gila Garcia.

Despite having one of the biggest high school student populations, Dinalupihan has no national public high school in the town proper, prompting the proposal to establish one in the area.

Garcia said the proposed national high school will benefit students from 21 barangays in the town, helping them save money in transport fare alone.

“Hindi na rin sila kinakailangang magbiyahe nang malayo, mas may oras sa pag-aaral, mas masusubay-bayan ng kanilang magulang, mas malalayo sa panganib, makakauwi nang bahay para kumain ng tangha-lian, at iba pa,” said Garcia.

Garcia said her proposal to establish a high school was immediately approved and granted funds by her father Governor Tet Garcia.

The first ever public high school in Dinalupihan town proper is proposed to be built at the Oval Grounds.

But Mayor Joel Payumo has blocked the plan, saying he cannot afford to offer the Oval Grounds which is being used for sports activities.

Garcia said the Sangguniang Bayan had approved a resolution supporting the high school construction but this was vetoed by Mayor Payumo for political reasons.

“Ang objection ni Mayor Payumo ay mawawala ang oval na pinagdarausan ng iba’t-ibang activities. Hindi mawawala ang oval. Ililipat lamang ito sa labas ng town proper para maging mas mura at mas malaki (5 hectares), hindi gaya ng kasalukuyang kinalalagyan nitong lugar na may sukat na 2.2 hectares lamang na hindi sapat para sa isang athletic ground. Mas murang bumili ng isang mas malaking oval sa labas ng town proper kaysa sa halagang gugugulin sa pagtatayo ng high school sa sentro,” said Garcia.

Garcia said that Payumo’s contention that Dinalupihan has enough classrooms in the five public high schools in Pagalanggang, Luakan, Magsaysay, Naparing and Pita, is not correct.

“Sa totoo, sa ngayon ay kulang na ang mga classrooms sa mga nasabing paaralan. At kung kailangan man magtayo ng additional classrooms, kitang-kita na ito ay dapat ilagay sa binabalak na bagong high school sa town proper,” said Garcia.

“In the final analysis, ang magpapasya sa pagtatayo ng bagong high school sa Oval, batay sa kabutihan at kapakanan na idudulot nito ay wala sa mga kamay nina Governor Tet, Gila, Mayor Joel o sa Sangguniang Bayan, kung di sa kagustuhan ng mas nakakaraming mga taga-Dinalupihan. Let the people of Dinalupihan decide! VoxPopuli, Vox Dei,” said Garcia.