PBGEA, TUCP breaks ground for school building donation

DAVAO CITY Aug.2 –The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) in partnership with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) broke ground for the two-classroom building donation to Elias P. Dacudao Gumalang School of Home Industries at Purok 1, Brgy. Gumalang, Baguio District, Davao City last July 28, 2011.

The classroom building project, which aims to improve educational environment and to address the acute classroom shortage in public schools, will be implemented in other two areas in Mindanao namely, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao and Kapalong in Davao del Norte.

“Kung adunay edukasyon, adunay kaugmaon. Kini ang atong motto nga gidala sa TUCP partylist sa paghatag aning school buildings (If there is education, there is a brighter future. This is what the TUCP partylist upholds as we hand these school buildings to the beneficiaries),” said Jesse Pagaran, who represented TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza.

An estimated 1,200 students in these three areas, including Brgy. Gumalang, will benefit from the project.

“Kabalo na ta nga issue pirmi sa atong mga eskwelahan is daghan kaayo ta ug mga estudyante pero kulang ta sa facilities especially classrooms (We know that the perennial issue in our schools is that we have so many students yet we lack classrooms and school facilities),” said Virgilio Jimenez, Jr., Chairman of PBGEA Community Development Committee.

Jimenez said the ideal classroom-students ratio is 1:40. However, “ang problema karon is makaabot ug 50 and above ang mga estudyante sa usa ka-room (the problem is that there are more than 50 students being squeezed in one room),” he added.

With only 6 classrooms, Elias P. Dacudao Gumalang School of Home Industries, formerly known as Gumalang National High School, currently caters to a total of 250 students.

“Dili gyud enough ang space para sa among mga studyante kay sa usa ka room 60-85 sila kabuok. Ang uban sa gawas na lang ga-klase (It is really not enough because 60-85 students are being squeezed in one room. While others hold their classes outside the room),” said Juliana B. Tano, the School Administrator.

She thanked PBGEA and TUCP for the initiative of providing them sustainable facility and harmonious learning environment thru the classroom building project.

PBGEA Executive Committee Member Anthony B. Sasin committed that they are planning to intensify the project by providing audio-visual facilities, electrification and road concreting for the school.

“Ang PBGEA, kauban ninyo sa paglambu diri sa Gumalang… Hinaot unta nga ampingan ninyo ang mga classrooms,” Sasin said.

Likewise, Tano promised to do their share in providing necessary support in the maintenance and management of the classrooms.

Besides PBGEA and TUCP, the school building project was also sponsored by DOLE Stanfilco and KASILAK with the Brgy. Council of Gumalang.

The groundbreaking gained the support and presence of DOLE Stanfilco Philippines Calinan Zone Councilor Ricarte Riogelon, Jr., Asst. School Division Superintendent Ma. Ynez Asuncion, and Brgy. Gumalang Chair Narciso D. Balucos. (PR/PBGEA)