School life goes on for fire victims

CEBU, Philippines - When the new academic year starts today, all child-victims of the May 11 fire in Barangay Luz, Cebu City will be going to the Barrio Luz Elementary School and Barrio Luz Night High School no longer to stay as evacuees, but as students.

Eduardo Fat Sr., 55, told The FREEMAN that although he does not have money to buy school supplies for his three children, he still enrolled them so they will not miss the school year.

“Gipa-enrol nako uy bahala’g usa lang una ka-notebook. Hinuon dili pa man kinahanglan ang daghan kay mao pa may pag-abli sa klase,” Fat said. (They will just bring one notebook each but it’s okay, they won’t be needing more for now as classes just opened.)

Fat, who is a laborer, has a 14-year-old high school student. His two other children aged 8 and 10 are both in elementary. As of the moment, Fat said, he cannot afford to buy school supplies because the money that they received as assistance from Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is intended for the construction of their house.

“Kung maka-kwarta palitan og kumpleto nga gamit agwantahun lang una ang kalisod,” he said. (We’ll buy them school supplies when we can. As for now, they will just have to make do with what they have.)

Jonalyn Misterio, 33, also enrolled her three children aged 6, 11, and 14. One is in high school and the other two are in elementary.

“Sayang ang tuig uy og dili pa-eskwelahon ang mga bata,” Misterio said. (We don’t want to waste a year.)

Misterio added that her 6-year-old daughter asked her to buy school supplies a week ago but all she could afford was pad papers.

Misterio said her husband is also a laborer but his income is not enough for the needs of the family.

Residents affected by the fire last May 11 are already constructing their houses while some are still staying in makeshift shanties. There were over 500 families affected and each received P10,000 from Rama.

Among the affected families, there are at least 200 students and Ronnie Sab-a, the barangay secretary, confirmed that all students were enrolled as he verified the teacher-in-charge of the enrollment at the Barrio Luz Elementary School and Barrio Luz Night High School.

“Na-confirmed na nako sa eskwelahan pero dili pa gyud tanan naay gamit mao gyud na among problema ron,” Sab-a said. (They all enrolled but their problem now is where to get school supplies.)

Sab-a added that Congressman Tomas Osmeña, Cebu City South District Representative, asked him for a list of the total number of students both in elementary and high school but so far, they have not received anything yet from the congressman including the P10,000 he promised for each family.

“Ang ingon dayo’ng abli sa klase pero so far wala pa mi nadawat,” he said adding that he did not have any idea if the assistance would include school uniforms and school supplies. (They told us they would be giving the aid when classes start but so far we have not received anything.)

The Center for Participatory Governance, a non-government organization, also promised school supplies for the elementary students.

Aside from that, the barangay will be giving P1,000 per household from the calamity fund.

Barangay Councilman Alito Jimmy Lipatan, chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order, said they are encouraging the private and government sectors to assist the children in their school needs.

He added that Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe is also planning to give school supplies for elementary and high school students. — /JPM (FREEMAN)