Finally, sturdy classrooms

KIBLAWAN, Davao del Sur – For high school students of Barangay Manual here, nothing could inspire more than sitting in a brand new concrete classroom this coming school year, a far cry from the amakan structure they’ve been used to.

Thanks to Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), one of the core programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which formally turned over a newly built structure with three classrooms worth Php 2,750,635.00 in Barangay Manual.

The ceremonial cutting of ribbon was led by Hon. Mayor Carl Jason Rama, DSWD Undersecretary Mae Fe Ancheta-Templa, and Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Program Coordinator Ma. Elena S. Labrador.

“We’ve been using our previous classrooms since 2013. The structure does not have solid walls as it is made of amakan or bamboo matting. The teachers have to somehow speak way beyond the normal to the point of almost shouting just for students to hear them. And with several classes going at that rate at the same time, just imagine how hard it is for everyone,” said Rosalita A. Estropia, principal.

The new building comes with brand new armchairs and blackboards. It has concrete walls and painted inside out.

“These new classrooms are slated to be used by 219 students,” said Robert Kenly A. Sta. Maria, Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinator in Kiblawan.

DSWD Undersecretary Mae Fe Ancheta-Templa expressed her heartfelt acknowledgment to teachers, parents, Local Government Unit (LGU), and community volunteers for their unwavering endeavor in prioritizing education for the students.

“Importante sa DSWD ang kalambuan sa katawhan, ug magsugod kini sa mga kabatan-onan. Maayo gyud nga giduso sa komunidad nga mao kini ang ilang priority (DSWD recognizes the importance of people development which begins with the youth. It is good that the community pushed this). To date, Kiblawan has nine completed sub-projects and three on-going construction, covering the first cycle of implementation with a total grant allocation of Php P17,847,200.00.

Kalahi-Cidss is a community-driven development (CDD) program of the Philippine Government aiming to empower people through sustainable development, enhanced participation in local governance, and management of poverty alleviation projects.

FROM AMAKAN TO CONCRETE. Since 2013, high school students in barangay Manual in Kiblawan have been having their classes in the bamboo and wood structure shown below. With Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Kalahi-Cidss, there now stands a...