FLORA, Apayao – Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr., during his recent visit to Flora town, reaffirmed his commitment to improving education in the province, particularly in remote areas.
On September 11, 2023, Gov. Bulut conducted a tour of various schools in Flora, where he shared his vision for accessible and high-quality education. His visit included the turnover and inauguration of the newly constructed Child Development Center in San Jose, Flora, as well as presiding over the Provincial School Board meeting at San Jose Integrated School. He likewise visited Allig National Agricultural and Trade High School and Mayor Ricardo De San Jose Sr. Comprehensive National High School.
Addressing teachers and school officials during his visit, Gov. Bulut expressed his deep concern for students in far-flung areas who often face challenges in accessing quality education. “We are going to make sure that those who are living in the far-flung areas are not being left out. Kasano ngaruden tay maysa aldaw nga magmagna tapno laeng mapan agbasa. Kakaasi da nga mabanbannog every day, all because they have no access to quality education within their community. That’s one of the reasons kung bakit mataas and dropout rate natin dito sa province. Imagine the fatigue that they have to endure every day,” he said.
He further emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities to all students, regardless of their geographical location. “Bigyan natin sila ng level playing field na katulad ng mga batang nasa sentro. I want equal opportunities for all our students. Sitayu metten a ti mangiasideg ti serbisyo nga para kanyada,” the Governor added.
Moreover, he urged the educational sector to plan for the next decade, stating, “It’s about time that we plan the next 10 years. Masapul nga agaddang tayu metten ti sumagmamano nga steps ti biag. Haan nga mabalin nga agpatinnga tayu laeng ti kastuy. Saan nga kanayun ket marigrigat tayu lattan. We are already capable of producing topnotchers as we can see from the previous years.”
Ensuring that addressing educational inequalities and guaranteeing quality education for all is a promising step towards a brighter future for the province, he pledged the provincial government’s full support for the Department of Education (DepEd) and emphasized the importance of cooperation in realizing this vision. “Edukasyon iti papintasen tayo a sumaruno. That is why we are fully supporting DepEd. Kitaen tayo ti napintas nga pagyanan iti ubbing,” he added. By PIO Apayao