Bulusan mayor issues clarification on Vice Ganda’s school donations

Mayor Wennie Rafalco-Romano of Bulusan, Sorsogon issued a clarification on the statement made by Vice Ganda on “It’s Showtime” about donations she made to a school.

On social media Tuesday, Rafalco-Romano said Vice Ganda visited the Bagacay Elementary School on September 26, 2023 and pledged a financial donation. In total, she sent P67,360 in four installments, the mayor said.

“Ang naging proyekto ay ang pagsasaayos ng bintana at pinto at pag-plaster ng dingding ng makeshift classroom, paglalagay ng tiles sa isang comfort room at pagkabit ng internet at bayad ng internet bill sa loob ng tatlong buwan,” the mayor said.

“Taos-puso pong nagpapasalamat ang LGU Bulusan sa donasyon na naibigay at sa kanyang kagandahang-loob, naayos po ang makeshift classroom na inumpisahan ng Parents Teachers Association (PTA) at may pondo din galing sa school MOOE at Special Education Fund ng LGU,” she added.

The mayor also said that prior to Vice Ganda’s visit, the school already had books and supplementary reading materials from the Department of Education.

“Ang Reading Kiosk na handog naman ni Vice Ganda ng karagdagang reading materials ay initiative po ng mga magulang para may pook pahingahan din ang mga bata at makapagbasa sa kanilang bakanteng oras,” she explained.

Rafalco-Romano said that while the LGU is grateful for Vice Ganda’s help, her public statement about her donation brought shame to the school, the municipality, and DepEd.

“Nababalewala ang lahat ng pagsusumikap ng mga guro at pamunuan, mga magulang at mga mag-aaral, lokal na liders at ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon at iba pang stakeholders para mabigyan ng kaaya-ayang paaralan ang mga kabataan na angkop sa kakayahan ng komunidad,” she said.

“Makakaasa po ang publiko na mabibigyan ng tamang intervention ang mga kakulangang nabanggit ng walang propaganda, kundi purong intensyon na matulungan ang ating mga mag-aaral.”

In her statement, Rafallo-Romano said Heart Evangelista, the wife of former Sorsogon governor and incumbent senator Chiz Esudero, had nothing to do with the issue.

In the October 24 episode of "It's Showtime," Vice Ganda said she visited Sorsogon and saw the conditions of a school "sa probinsya nila Heart Evangelista."

— MGP/LA, GMA Integrated News