LGSF-funded school building in La Paz, Agusan Sur 100% complete
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — A newly constructed classroom worth P2.5 million has been completed at the Lope Cortes Valentina Integrated School (LCVIS), formerly Lope Cortes Elementary School (LCES), in Barangay Valentina, La Paz, Agusan del Sur.
Marking a significant milestone in the community’s pursuit of accessible and quality education, the project was funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Support to the Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) – in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that “no community is left behind” under the ‘Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang’ (BBM) program.
From Elementary to Integrated School
For 49 years, LCES served as a primary school offering Kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum. On March 26 of this year, it was officially converted into an integrated school, expanding its services to include Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS). This transformation was crucial, as no other nearby JHS and SHS institutions existed then, forcing students to travel long distances to continue their education.
Students from two grade levels of Lope Cortes Valentina Integrated School (LCVIS) share one makeshift classroom due to the scarcity of school buildings. Unlike in other schools, teachers in LCVIS practice the art of multitasking—shifting their lessons from one grade level to another.
Addressing overcrowding and scarcity
The new building features a 50-student capacity classroom with its own comfort room, a welcome relief for the school community. Previously, overcrowding forced some students into makeshift classrooms—open spaces with only a roof overhead—or into shared rooms where two grade levels were taught simultaneously.
Enrollment has surged from 256 students last year to 399 this year, a 56% increase, following the school’s conversion to an integrated institution. The new classroom helps ease congestion, especially after a fire last year destroyed two classrooms, worsening the shortage.
Voices of gratitude
In expressing his heartfelt appreciation, Barangay Captain Derio Morino said: “As the father of the barangay, I am very much grateful that through the LGSF-SBDP, we have been given a new classroom. This will help us provide sufficient and quality education to our students.”
Parents also welcomed the development. Jay Tarande, father of an incoming JHS student, shared: “Now that Lope Cortes is already offering JHS and SHS, we parents understand the need for more classrooms not only for the convenience of our children, but also for the teachers. Although the total number of classrooms in LCVIS versus its population may still be insufficient, we are still very thankful for this big help for us.”
School Principal Matthew Ewa echoed the same sentiment: “Our school has already experienced several challenges, including the fire that broke out last year, destroying two of our classrooms. For a struggling school, classroom scarcity is a problem.”
“We are beyond grateful for the new classroom. By decongesting the other classrooms, students will be more comfortable and will have more focus in listening to their teachers.”
The local government unit of La Paz, Agusan del Sur, expects to turn over the new school building within this year. According to Ewa, the Grade 3 students will occupy the new classroom after the said turnover.
A step toward educational equity
The new classroom is more than just infrastructure—it symbolizes resilience and hope for Barangay Valentina. It ensures that children can pursue education without the burden of long commutes and overcrowded learning spaces.
This project highlights the impact of government investment in education infrastructure and how programs like the LGSF-SBDP directly uplift communities by addressing urgent needs. (NJGD, PIA Caraga with a report from the Municipal Information Officer of La Paz, Agusan del Sur)
