Jeanevive Duron-Abangan
The Government of Japan expects residents of Barangay Del Pilar of New Corella Municipality to “treasure” the P3.2 million classroom building that it had turned over through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP).
Attending the turnover rites held on Tuesday, May 07, 2nd Secretary Atsushi Kobayashi of the Embassy of Japan expressed hopes that “you will maintain it with utmost care to benefit the future generations.’
“Now that we have completed this project, we expect to see its immediate impact to around 686 students of Del Pilar Elementary School,” Kobayashi said.
Kobayashi was accompanied by Atty Alberto T. Escobarte, regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) XI; and Dr. Josephine Fadul, Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd Division of Davao del Norte.
The government of Japan extended P3.2 million worth of GGP grant while the Municipality of New Corella chipped in a counterpart funding of P1.6 million to construct the school building of four classrooms furnished with tables, armchairs, ceiling fans and chalkboards and comfort rooms for boys and girls.
Kobayashi cited education assistance as a crucial component of GGP to promote quality education and that he viewed the classroom project as an important contribution in “honing the potential of our students and make them responsible members of our communities”.
Meanwhile, Executive Assistant to New Corella Mayor Rhodora Alcoran, Nestor Alcoran recalled the previous state of teaching in Del Pilar Elementary School. He said the school used to conduct some of its classes in “makeshift classrooms” and employ “classroom combination strategy” to accommodate students.
“The grant is a testimony of the strong conviction of the government of Japan and the Philippines to provide the need of students to learn in good environment,” he said as he revealed that the LGU of New Corella also infused corresponding resources for the project.
“We are thankful to government of Japan for helping us change the situation in Del Pilar (elementary school),” he said.
On the other hand, Atty Escobarte viewed the GGP classroom building project as factor of “reinvigorating the importance of education” as it realized “the aspiration of the people of this barangay to have their children provided with quality education.”
“This new school building not only improves the environment of learning but symbolically opens new space of hopes of teachers and learners,” he said.
Along the same line of thought, Dr. Fadul threw a challenge to the school administrator and teachers of Del Pilar Elementary School to raise the academic performance of students in an effort to maximize the benefits that the new school facility is providing.
She also asked the barangay officials of Del Pilar to help the school administration protect and take care of the new classroom building “for the benefit of other children in the future.” (PIA XI- JDA)
