Caraga RTF-ELCAC eyes establishment of public schools in insurgency-affected areas in SurSur
By Rhea C. Mendez
BUTUAN
CITY, Sept. 16 (PIA) – The Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communist
Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) eyes the establishment of public schools in
insurgency-affected areas in the province of Surigao del Sur to replace the
now-closed Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) and the
Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development
(ALCADEV).
Two of
the 11 schools located at Sitio Simowao, Brgy. Diatagon in Lianga and Sitio
Lucnodon, Brgy. Mahaba in Marihatag have already submitted documentary
requirements for the establishment of DepEd-accredited schools, DepEd Caraga
regional director Francis Cesar Bringas said during the recent RTF-ELCAC
technical working group (TWG) virtual meeting.
Construction
for a classroom building in the said areas began in March of this year through
the joint efforts of the Philippine Army’s (PA) Engineering Brigade and the
municipal governments of Lianga and Marihatag, under the supervision of the
education department and the provincial government of Surigao del Sur.
Financial support was provided by the Social Development Committee of the
Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) and the provincial government.
To help
expedite the establishment of the much-needed schools in the nine remaining
areas, the RTF-ELCAC TWG issued Resolution No. 1, Series of 2020, “Requesting
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Caraga to Donate to the
Province of Surigao del Sur the Confiscated Logs and Lumber to be Used in the Construction
of Indigenous Peoples (IP) Schools and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority to Facilitate the Fabrication of Tables and Chairs for
the Nine (9) IP Schools in Surigao del Sur”.
In addition, the same TWG issued Resolution No. 2, Series of 2020, “Enjoining the Municipal Mayors of Lianga, Tago, Marihatag and San Miguel, Surigao Del Sur to Identify Possible Sites for the Establishment of Indigenous Peoples (IP) Schools in the Nine (9) Conflict-Affected Barangays”. (NEDA Caraga/DMNR/PIA-Caraga)