DepEd Siargao to receive 4 disaster-resilient classrooms from Kapuso Foundation
DAPA, Surigao del Norte - The GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. staff spearheaded by its Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rikki Escudero-Catibog, Senior Project Officer Tina Dungca, Marketing Supervisor Tracy Cruz, and Senior Project Engineer Edgar Eniego conducted an ocular inspection to the six shortlisted schools recommended by the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province for the construction of four typhoon-proof and earthquake-resistant classrooms.
During the inspection on Saturday, February 5, the GMA Kapuso Foundation
staff was accompanied by SDO-Siargao Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Dr.
Nelia Lomocso, Engineer Neil Espenido, and Division Disaster Risk Reduction
Management (DRRM) coordinator EPS Catherine Landao, duly escorted by the
Philippine Army Engineer troop led by Commander Macalintangui.
The schools visited by the team for onsite validation were Mabuhay
Elementary School, Tigasao Elementary School, Baybay Elementary School,
Matin-ao Elementary School, Bagacay Elementary School, and Cabitoonan
Elementary School.
From the six inspected elementary schools, Catibog said the school with
a good number of enrollees that can justify the number of proposed classrooms,
and has a water supply and internet connection, is most likely to be considered
in granting the said project.
“Mamimili kami ng isang school mula sa anim na inirekomenda ng inyong
tanggapan. Ang talagang pipiliin naming ay yung mga mahihirap at malalayo
that’s why we don’t go central (We will choose one school from the six schools
recommended by your office. We will choose the poorest school and one that is
situated in a far-flung area that's why we don't go central),” said Catibog to
Dr. Lomocso.
“Ang maganda sa classrooms na ‘to is that, it can withstand the
8-intensity earthquake and can resist the 300-kilometer-per-hour wind speed
like the ones we built in Catanduanes (What's great about this classroom is
that it can withstand an 8-intensity earthquake and can resist a
300-kilometer-per-hour speed, like the ones we built in Catanduanes)," she
added.
Catibog anticipated that the construction of classrooms will start in
June, and the groundbreaking will follow in October of this year.
She also asked the total number of enrolments throughout the Siargao
Division from Kindergarten to Grade-II for the provision of school supplies
through their foundation’s “Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan” program. All grade
learners will also receive a bag full of grocery items through their “Give a
Gift” project.
“Lalahatin na namin para at least hindi malulungkot yung ibang schools
na hindi papalarin sa ocular inspection. Magsasagawa din kami ng libreng tuli
at mamimigay ng roofing materials sa ibang bayan ng Siargao para spread yung
blessings (We will include all schools that have not been included in the
ocular inspection so that they won't be left out. We will also conduct free
circumcision and distribute roofing materials in other towns in Siargao to
spread the blessings),” said Catibog.
Dr. Lomocso was truly delighted to GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc. for
considering DepEd Siargao in their project.
“We consider it as a great assistance for the learning continuity here
in our beloved Schools Division of Siargao,” Dr. Lomocso said.
(DepEd-Siargao/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
