U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bassett inaugurates new schoo
03/07/2010
U.S. EMBASSY CHARGé D’AFFAIRES BASSETT INAUGURATES NEW SCHOO :: U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bassett inaugurates new school in Sarangani
MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 7, 2010) – United States Embassy Chargé
d’Affaires Leslie A. Bassett (not Ambassador as earlier reported by
Sarangani Information Office) led the inauguration of a P700,000
two-classroom building complete with facilities for Tuyan Elementary
School Friday (March 5) donated by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and Petron Foundation worth.
Bassett’s first visit to the province was welcomed by local and school
officials, and students waving flaglets of the United States and the
Philippines.
“We have to pick the schools that have the support of everybody- the
barangay captains, and to do the extra to partner with us,” Bassett
said.
“We have to pick the schools that have great principles to what their
school can do, schools that have wonderful teachers to work extra hard
with pupils to try to improve education.”
“These are the schools whose pupils appreciate the peace programs that
apply here, who have the respect of their parents, to try to build
better future for their country. That’s why we are here,” Bassett
added.
Bassett’s ten-man party with USAID Director Elzadia Washington turned
over books to the school with USAID’s Education Quality Access for
Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQUALLS2) project.
Education is one of the centerpiece programs of governance under
Governor Migs Dominguez.
Sarangani provincial government has opened 18 new integrated schools
in its remotest barangays.
The Tuyan Elementary School is the only school of peace in Sarangani
recognized by the United Nations.
“This is because we have the cooperation of the community,” said
school principal Edgar Egano.
The school integrates the concept of peace in their curriculum which
teachers have learned from the province-wide Culture of Peace
training.
“We would like to thank the USAID and Petron Foundation and other
donors for giving us a new school building which will be a great help
for our studies,” Grade V pupil Cherrie Fe Habwanan said.
“This is a part of our commitment to the national government,” Petron
Foundation Executive Director Malu Erni said.
Erni said Sarangani has the most in number of schools of the 120 new
school buildings and 480 school building repairs of Petron Foundation
education program.
“Petron fuels hope. Hope stands for Helping Filipinos Overcome Poverty
through Education,” Erni said.
Expressing her gratitude to the donors, Department of Education
Regional Director Isabelita Borres said, with the new school building,
“our lives will never be the same again.”
“We promise to use our new school building and all its facilities
wisely,” Ayesha Harid, a Grade V pupil, said. (Russtum G.
Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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