EU ambassador to PH visits Siargao school, monitors humanitarian aid
BUTUAN CITY -- European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron visited Caridad Elementary School in Pilar town in Surigao del Norte on August 16, 2022 to monitor the school development projects and humanitarian aid, alongside the discussion of the recovery plans with the local officials and community members of Pilar.
Prior to the short program, the ambassador paid a courtesy call to the local chief executive of the municipality of Pilar, Mayor Maria Liza G. Resurreccion, and committed to bring more humanitarian aid to meet the desired goal of the organization in reducing social and economic marginalization.
Among the assistance received by Caridad Elementary School and its community are shelter repair, water, sanitation, and hygiene protection-related interventions, multi-purpose learning space as a temporary venue for teaching-learning activities, solar lights, sleeping gear, and legal documents processing.
Present during the ambassador’s visit are Nicole Wesmann, ambassador’s wife; Arlyn Aquino, Humanitarian Aid Program Officer; Maria Rosario Felizco, Oxfam ountry director; Thelma Gecolea, Public Affairs officer; Cathy Desinganio, secretary to the Ambassador; Dr. Nelia S. Lomocso, schools division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Siargao Division; Mayor Maria Liza Resurreccion and Vice Mayor Jeasa Gonzales; Catherine Landao, DepEd Siargao Brigada Eskwela/DRRM coordinator; and Emilie Pomoy, Pilar district supervisor.
In a statement, Ambassador Veron shared that he was emotional and very passionate about helping the education sector. For him, doing otherwise is tantamount to the curtailment of the children’s basic right to education, especially education in emergencies.
“I came here today not in a way as an ambassador. I came here not to witness the devastation, but the recovery of the place and the people after the disaster,” he said.
“I am emotional while visiting your school because I see education as a basic right. This is something we should be concerned about since the future of Pilar is in the education of the children of Pilar,” he added.
In a response message, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Nelia S. Lomocso conveyed her gratitude to Ambassador Veron for the enormous support he extended to Caridad, most especially the learners.
“I am bringing the love and gratefulness of DepEd Siargao for the European Union’s relentless and altruistic effort in providing the direct need of our department in preparation for the face-to-face classes,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Resurreccion was overjoyed with the partnership she forged with the European Union.
“Thank you because with our partnership, there’s a bright future to look forward to through your humanitarian aid. Thank you for the time, effort, and love shared to us,” she said
The European Union also gave out school supplies to Caridad Elementary School. (Edgar R. Gorgonio, Jr., DepEd-Siargao/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
