School building opened in Tuburan mountain brgy

CEBU, Philippines - A two-room classroom building named after the late Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano was inaugurated yesterday in Barangay Kabangkalan, one of the most remote areas in the Municipality of Tuburan in northwest Cebu.

The activity was attended by Education Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali; Dr. Rey Martinez, political affairs officer for the Visayas of Senators Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano, the children of Renato; Vice Governor Agnes Magpale; Board Members Alex Binghay and Ian Geronimo Zambo; Department of Education 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia; Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante and other local government and school officials.

Alan Peter provided P1.5 million as counterpart to the one hectare lot purchased by Diamante to construct the two-classroom building for the Ireneo V. Diamante Memorial National High School. The school is located about 14 kilometers from the town proper and is accessible through a rough and newly opened road.

The building is now being used as classroom of around a hundred students enrolling first and second year coming from other neighboring mountain barangays.

Diamante said it was his longtime dream to have a high school in the barangay to give chance to students to pursue high school without going to far places.

The Tuburan National High School located in the town proper is said to be already overcrowded.

Martinez said the Diamante’s thrust to bring education closer to children in mountainous areas met with that of Cayetano’s, which prompted them to heed the request for classroom buildings.

In his speech, Umali said the barangay has been the farthest from the main town he has ever been to, by far.

With the formal turnover of the school building to DepEd, Borgonia said the school will now be included in the list of schools that would be allocated funds from the national government. He assured that more classrooms will be constructed and more items for teachers will be opened. The two teachers of the school at present are being paid by the municipal government.

Magpale, together with Binghay and Zambo, also promised to allocate funds for the construction of more classrooms.

Diamante is hoping that classes for the fourth year level can be opened in the barangay next year. The school has complete levels in elementary although classrooms are being shared by other classes.

Diamante expressed his gratitude to the visitors, especially to Umali, saying it was the first time that guests from Manila visited the mountain barangay. – Gregg M. Rubio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)