“The school has an immense role in the education of the children,” Secretary Bautista tells the Talaandig community of Sitio Tigbaw and Sitio Akbayan.

TALACOGON, AGUSAN DEL SUR – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista took part in the unveiling and inauguration ceremony of the one-unit two-classroom and two-unit two-classroom elementary school buildings for the indigenous communities in Sitio Tigbaw and Sitio Akbayan – Hope Village at Kabacahan Elementary School, Brgy. Zillovia, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur on May 2, 2019.

The school buildings were implemented through the Classroom Construction for Lumads (CCL) Project of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program. This project is an initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to scale up the education of the indigenous communities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in Mindanao.

These two school buildings, named as Insibay Elementary School and Sindungan Elementary School, are only two of the 174 CCL projects nationwide.

Secretary Bautista emphasized the need to establish public schools in communities because it strengthens the education of the people, particularly the children. Through these centers of learning, the children are provided with better access to education and new opportunities to learn more so that someday, they may become productive members of society.

Further, he also reminded the barangay officials and residents of Barangay Zillovia that cooperation and harmony should be sustained so that the community may continue to progress and grow.

“Dahil sa pagtutulungan ay nagawa ang eskwelahan. Naramdaman ng bawat isa na sa anumang bagay, sa anumang sitwasyon, kailangan sama-sama para mabuo at magawa kung anumang proyekto ang dadalhin sa inyong lugar (Through your teamwork, you were able to establish a school in your community. In any situation, it is important that you act as a team and work closely with each other so that you may accomplish every project that is brought into your community),” he said.

During the hand-over of the key of responsibility, DSWD Caraga OIC-Regional Director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim stressed that the community should continue to commit to their responsibilities in maintaining and taking good care of the school buildings.

“Dapat buhaton nato ang atong mga responsibilidad sa pagmaintain ani nga project para magamit pa sa umaabot (We should do our responsibilities in maintaining this project so that we can still make use of it in the future),” she said.

Punong Barangay of Zillovia Mechael Ucay assured the DSWD and the Talaandig community that they will continue to help and support the community in their journey towards development. He said that the Barangay Local Government Unit of Zillovia will always try to find means in addressing the needs of the people.

By June, the children of Sitio Tigbaw and Sitio Akbayan – Hope Village will not have to cram themselves anymore inside a small, warm, and run down room. Now, they can enjoy the comfort of a safe and proper classroom.

“Ang ating gobiyerno ay may puso sa mga nangangailangan, sa mga mahihirap, at sa mga indigenous peoples. Pero dapat kapag may binigay na proyekto ay pangalagaan natin ito. Pag-ingatan natin ito. Kaya dapat pagtulungan ninyo na mapanatili ang magandang kondisyon ng inyong eskwelahan (Our government has the heart for the poor and the disadvantaged, including the indigenous peoples. But if you are given a project, you should make sure to take good care of it. Help each other so that you can maintain the good condition of your school),” Secretary Bautista concluded.###(CLEA MARIEL C. MALUNHAO/SOCIAL MARKETING SECTION/DSWD CARAGA)