Students in remote Agusan Norte barangays receive educational equipment
By Nora L. Molde
SCHOOL EQUIPMENT: Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte Mayor Karen Rosales (5th from
right) leads the delivery of school equipment to three remote areas in Barangay
Bokbokon. The equipment, consisting of desktop and laptop computers, printers,
television, sound systems, water dispensers, and refrigerator was provided by
the Agusan del Norte provincial government. (Photo courtesy of MIO Las Nieves,
Agusan del Norte)
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) —Indigenous peoples (IP) students in far-flung communities of Las Nieves town in Agusan del Norte have received much-needed boost in learning and teaching resources from the local government in line with the national government’s thrust to strengthen inclusive and future-ready education across the country.
In his 2024 and 2025 State of the Nation Addresses (SONA), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the urgency of bridging the digital divide in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), where public schools often lack connectivity and access to learning technologies.
“Similarly, as we relentlessly address the classroom gap, the digital gap must also be bridged with equal intensity,” President Marcos said in 2024.
A year later, he reaffirmed this commitment, announcing the rollout of over a million SIM cards with free data, and setting a goal of connecting all public schools to the internet by the end of 2025. He noted that nearly 12,000 public schools remain without connectivity.The recent turnover of learning equipment in Barangay Bokbokon, a GIDA in Las Nieves, echoed this national call for inclusive education. The intervention was made possible through the support of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte led by Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, and LGU Las Nieves headed by Mayor Karen S. Rosales.
It
targeted three key learning institutions namely, the Bokbokon Elementary
School, Salaming Annex, and the Bokbokon Daycare Center.
Among the
equipment distributed for Sitio Salaming include two desktop computers, two
laptops, one printer, one 65-inch television, and one sound system. Bokbokon
Daycare Center also received three sound systems and three water dispensers;
and Bokbokon Elementary School also received one refrigerator.
This
initiative is part of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte’s
continuing efforts to ensure that learners in remote communities are not left
behind.
Governor
Amante emphasized the importance of equipping far-flung schools with tools that
enhance both teaching and learning environments. While Mayor Rosales, for her
part, underscored the unwavering commitment of the local government unit of Las
Nieves to improving the educational landscape in indigenous communities.
“Through
the support of the provincial government, we are able to strengthen the
foundation of education in Barangay Bokbokon,” the local chief executive said.
“The LGU will continue to exert effort to support the future of your children,
for they are the next generation of leaders.”
Michael
Mandahinog, municipal information officer of Las Nieves relayed, “Teachers,
parents, and community members expressed heartfelt gratitude, recognizing the
distribution as a crucial step toward improving access to quality education.”
“These
resources are a huge help to the current generation of learners, especially in
their schooling,” said Ricardo Burdeos, teacher-in-charge of Bokbokon
Elementary School, as relayed by Mandahinog.
This multi-level collaboration, anchored in the national government’s vision, strengthened by the province, and implemented by the municipality, reflected a shared commitment to ensuring that no Filipino learner, regardless of geography or background, is left behind in the journey toward digital inclusion and quality education. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)