KABUGAO, Apayao – School grounds in three different sites in Kabugao, Apayao just got a little busier with the inauguration of new learning facilities on Monday, March 11.
Congresswoman Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang, alongside Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Irene Angway, and municipal government officials, led the turnover of the Kaliat Integrated School Multipurpose Building in Barangay EKB, the Balay Pagdadarnan in Lenneng Elementary School, and the Department of Education (DepEd) Administrative Building in Kabugao Agro-Industrial High School.
A sign that things are getting done and progress are being made, for those who have long called for better school infrastructure.
These brand new facilities are the province’s direct response to the realities on the ground. The PhP5 million Kaliat Integrated School Multipurpose Building was funded through the Congresswoman and implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Basic Infrastructure Program, while the Balay Pagdadarnan, meant to double as an evacuation center, was backed by PhP10 million from the Quick Response Fund of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Another PhP10 million was secured by the Congresswoman to jumpstart the construction of the now inaugurated DepEd Admin Building of Kabugao School District.
These projects were initiated by Congresswoman Bulut-Begtang and Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr. and implemented by the DPWH-Apayao First District Engineering Office and the provincial government.
For Angway, the new structures are only part of a larger push for education-focused development. “Next project would be additional classrooms. Ito ang napakalaking advantage ng Apayao. Yung napapansin at nakikita ng mga officials ang kailangan ng probinsiya. Higit pa doon, nabibigyan agad ng aksiyon,” she said, pointing to the kind of leadership that not only takes note of gaps but moves swiftly to address them.
Bulut-Begtang on the other hand, made it clear that education infrastructure is a priority, and reinforced the need for long-term planning to make sure that school facilities do more than just catch up, but stay ahead of future demands.
With these three new facilities standing, the province is proving that progress happens in schools, in communities, and in the everyday lives of yApayao learners who now have better spaces to learn. By Apayao PIO
