BUGUIAS, Benguet – One unit two-classroom school building worth P2 million was turned over by Kalahi-CIDSS to the residents of Barangay Catlubong, Buguias, Benguet on October 14.
The school building was formally received by Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA) President Jiones Camas and Barangay Captain MelchorGuesey. The PTA will lead in the operation and maintenance of the building.
Before the turn-over, the association underwent a training-workshop on operation and maintenance with the Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinating Team assigned in the municipality.
The sub-project was identified by the community as their priority need during the Participatory Situational Analysis conducted in 2014. The building was then proposed to address the lack of classrooms due to the K-12 implementation and increase of enrollees at Catlubong National High School.
Marygrail B. Dong-as, DSWD-CAR Assistant Regional Director for Operation and the current Regional Program Manager of Kalahi-CIDSS emphasized on the sustainability of the project.
“The most important thing for you to do now is to take care of the building. Remember that this is built from the joint effort of the community with DSWD and the municipal government in our bid to alleviate poverty in the Cordillera,” Dong-as declared.
Several stakeholders walked through the building and expressed satisfaction on the building and its complete accessories which included new chairs, cabinets, comfort rooms and television screen.
Education Program Supervisor for TLE Samuel Ayangda, who represented the Department of Education said, “the project was well-managed since they were able to buy 42-inche LED screen television and ceiling fans which I heard are not part of the original program of the project.”
Ayangda expressed his appreciation to the community for putting education as apriority in the barangay and for taking action to help the department in answering some of their needs.
Some of the savings were also used in the riprapping of a portion of areasaround the building.
Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinator Glenda Lomino also recognized the 53 community volunteers, the municipal local government unit and the barangay officials for their active and generous support during the implementation.
“This project would never have been successful without your eagerness and sacrifices, from its conception until now, and we expect that you will pour the same level of support for the second cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS,” Lomino added.
Other completed sub-projects in the municipality include a one-classroom school building at Barangay Calamagan worth Php 882,957, and road concreting at Barangay Lengaoan worth Php5,978,339.
By Jasmin P. Kiaso