LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rep. Eric Yap assured people from the different parts of the province that one of his mission will be to help in enhancing the learning conditions of learners following the infrastructure development being implemented in identified remote villages provincewide.
Yap was able to recently secure from the national government funds amounting to P210 million for the construction of seven more schoolbuildings that will rise in the different towns in the future.
“Our students and teachers will surely experience a big relief with the upcoming construction of additional schoolbuildings. We are committed to help build more schoolbuildings in the province and we will always make sure to include those in far flung barangays and those with very alarming classroom to student ratio is our utmost prority,” Congressman Yap stressed.
Among the schoolbuildings that are set for construction this year are 2-story 4-classroom schoolbuilding at the Tacadang National High School in Kibungan; 3-story 13-classroom schoolbuilding and a science laboratory at the Ambangeg National High School in Bokod; 4-story 8-classroom schoolbuilding at the Loo National High School in Buguias; 2-story 4-classroom schooolbuilding at the Liang Primary School in Itogon; 3-story 15-classroom schoolbuilding at the Gov. Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School in Kapangan; 3-story 15-classroom schoolbuilding at the Taneg Elementary School in Mankayan and 2-story 6-classroom schoolbuilding at the Indaoac Elementary School in Tuba.
The lawmaker disclosed that all the funds came from the Department of Education where he had to lobby hard for the release of the funds that will ensure the put up of the schoolbuildings in the identified schools that need the additional structures.
“We have to be creative and resourceful in lobbying for the release of the funds for our identified priority projects because we want to ensure that we will not be left behind in terms of development projects that will be implemented in the different parts of Benguet, especially the remote communities,” he added.
He claimed that normally, Benguet has always been left out in the allocation of the meager resources of the government, particularly the education department, that is why budget for repairs and rehabilitation of schoolbuildings are the ones that are made available, thus, there is big disparity in the quality of education in the province compared to other well developed provinces around the country.
According to him, two schoolbuidings are set to be completed this year such as the 3-story 9-classroom schoolbuiding at the Sinipsip National High School in Buguias and the 4-story 10-classroom schoolbuilding at the Ambiong National High School in La Trinidad.
“Very notable din yung bagong school building sa Tacadang, before, sobrang taas ng cost to build structures doon dahil very remote, hauling pa lang sobrang taas na. But after napalagyan natin ng kalsada, the cost went down hanggang sa naging mas manageable na. Kaya ngayon, sisimulan na din ang construction ng bagong school building doon. That’s one of the reasons why we continue building more roads, so access to basic services will be much easier,” Yap further said.
Yap has long recognized the importance of providing students with conducive learning environments and address the pressing need for improved school facilities in Benguet.
The construction of nine new school buildings marks a significant investment in the educational infrastructure of Benguet that will not only provide much-needed classroom space but also offer modern facilities conducive to effective teaching and learning.
“Efforts like these, mga bagong school buildings, are our investment for the future of the province. We need to provide an enabling environment for our people to have more income opportunities by giving them quality education. This is part of our holistic approach to address poverty. Ang pangarap natin, lahat ng bata dapat nag-aaral, bawat pamilya, may nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. When that happens, tataas ang employability natin and the spending power of a family will increase,” Yap closed. By Dexter A. See