First of the 251 schools for lumads to be built in
Mindanao inaugurated in AgSur town
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Nov. 29 – Underscoring the
government’s commitment to promote inclusive development, the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
(Kalahi-CIDSS) Classroom Construction for Lumads (CCL) program in partnership
with Department of Education (DepEd), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
successfully conducted the recently held turn-over and inauguration ceremony of
the one unit-two classroom school building for lumads sub-project at Sitio
Durian, Barangay Lucac, San Francisco, this province.
DSWD Caraga General Administration and Support
Services Division (GASSD) Chief Ramel Jamen and DepEd’s Indigenous People’s
Education Office (IPsEO) Coordinator Rozzano Rufino along with NCIP
representatives and Tribal Councils led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and
unveiling of the sub-project marker. The said sub-project amounting to Php1,
680, 333 is the first of the 251 schools for lumads awarded in the different
regions of Mindanao, which was completed and turned over.
The tribal school building was officially received
by the local government and education officials, community volunteers, as well
as parents and beneficiary students of the project. The Regional and
Sub-Regional Program Management Office (R/SRPMO) staff of Kalahi-CIDSS Caraga
along with the Area Coordinating Team (ACT) of San Francisco for CCL witnessed
the ceremonial rites.
Before the school was built, students of the area
had to walk 1.5 kilometers of rugged path just to reach the nearest barangay
school.
One of the community volunteers in Lucac, Mercedita
EspaΓ±a is full of gratitude and appreciation as she shared her experience
during the implementation of the sub-project.
“Nagpasalamat ako sa tanan nagpaluyo sa malampusong
pag implementar sa proyekto. Nalipay kami kay ang among estudyante, among mga
anak, dili na magbagtas ug ingani ka lisud para lang mu eskwela. Ug kini among
nakuha pinaagi sa tabang sa gobyerno sa amo mga IP (I thank everyone who is
behind the successful implementation of the project. I am happy because our
students, our children, will no longer have to hike along a difficult terrain
just to go to school. And we attained
this through the government’s help for us IPs),” EspaΓ±a said.
Datu Danny Bando, a community volunteer and purok
leader of Sitio Durian, came out of the hospital just so he could not miss the
inauguration ceremony of their sub-project.
“Akong gidasig akong kaugalingun para makatambong
aning importanteng okasyon sa atong komunidad. Kay kini katumanan na sa dugay
natong mga damgo (I encouraged myself just so I could attend this important
event in our community. Because this is the fulfilment of our long-time
dreams), “Bando shared.
DepEd’s IPsEO Coordinator Rozzano Rufino emphasized
that the main objective of the project is to provide accessible and
culture-based education for the IPs.
“Bahagi po
ito ng pagpupursige ng programa hindi lang upang masiguro na walang bata ang
maiiwan kundi na yung pag-aaral mismo na nakaugat sa kultura ay kailangan
nating ipagdiwang at palakasin (This is part of the efforts of the program not
only to ensure that no child will be left behind but also to celebrate and
strengthen the education rooted in culture), “ Rufino said.
Culture-Based Education. The school building
implemented in Sitio Durian was designed conforming to the cultural preference
of the tribe and built through the collaborative efforts of the community.
DSWD Caraga GASSD Chief Ramel Jamen commended
everyone who has been a part of the project’s completion and encouraged
continued cooperation from the community to ensure sustainability of the
project.
“Sa kinatibuk-an dako ang among kalipay na natapos
na kini nga proyekto. Angay natong pakpakan ang tanan na nalimbigit ani nga
proyekto (As a whole, we are happy that this project has been completed. We
applaud everyone who has been part of this project), “Jamen said.
“Kini na napamatud-an na dako atong mabuhat ubos sa
pagtinabangay. Busa naghinaot kami na ang pag-amuma niining pasilidad angkonon kini susama sa
inyong balay para kini mulahotay sa dugay na panahon ( This is a proof that we
can do great things if we work together. That is why we hope that you will take
care of this facility just like how you would with your homes so this will be
sustained for a long period of time), “ he added. (DSWD-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Butuan students participate in DSWD’s campaign
against lowering of MACR
By Abegail R. Alvarez
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 29 (PIA) - Some students from the
Agusan National High School (ANHS) marked their names and signature on the
tarpaulin printed with “No to lowering MACR” to signify their opposition of the
proposed lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from 15
years old to nine years old.
This was held during the signature campaign of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga against the lowering
of MACR. The campaign was launched during the kick-off program of the 5th
Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week held at Robinsons Place Butuan
on November 21, 2016.
Recently, DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo issued a
strong opposition against the intent of House Bill No. 935 (An Act Amending
Certain Provision of Republic Act. No. 9344, otherwise known as the “Juvenile
Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 and for Other Purposes”) and House Bill No.
3973 (An Act Lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility Amending for
the Purpose Republic Act 9344). (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
