Dumaguete City to Purchase Former Catherina Cittadini-St. Louis School for DepEd Use

DUMAGUETE CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of Dumaguete City is set to purchase the former Catherina Cittadini-St. Louis School (CC-SLS) to repurpose it for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Dumaguete City Central Elementary School (CCES).

The CC-SLS, which provided elementary and high school education for over 30 years, ceased operations at the end of the current academic year. Dr. Juditha Mapue, chief of the curriculum implementation department of the City Schools Division, announced that DepEd officials will inspect the site soon.

A use-rights agreement between DepEd and the LGU is necessary, wherein DepEd will be responsible for managing and protecting the property. “We cannot just immediately transfer the site for the CCES as it has to go through a process. We forwarded the letter to the DepEd Region 7 (Central Visayas) office for guidance and action,” Mapue said in a statement.

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo recently led an inspection of the private school’s premises and is scheduled to formally sign an agreement on Wednesday for the purchase, valued at PHP150 million. The relocation of the public elementary school will allow the city to utilize the current CCES structures at the city hall complex.

Mapue highlighted that while the city government owns the CCES buildings, renovations cannot proceed on structures not owned by DepEd. There are approximately 800 learners at the CCES, indicating a significant need for adequate educational facilities.

The acquisition of the CC-SLS campus represents a strategic move to enhance educational infrastructure and provide a better learning environment for the students of Dumaguete City.