A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Children of Brgy. Del Rosario in Tagkawayan, Quezon Province now enjoy a good classroom—a far better learning experience as compared to sharing with two to three grade levels and even sharing chairs with each other. Through the help of the community residents of the said barangay, the Del Rosario Elementary School has a one-classroom building that will benefit their children and the generations to come.

The said classroom, which costs Php631,418.00, was constructed under the DSWD’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and funded by the Australian Government-Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). This modality of the Kalahi-CIDSS helps close the gaps in education through building school facilities following the community-driven development approach.

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Doing everything for the children’s future

It is often said that one must climb mountains, cross rivers, and walk the extra mile for dreams to come true. And for a group of parents dreaming nothing but a good future for their children, these are literally what they have to go through to make their dreams happen.

Living in the remote barangay of Del Rosario in Tagkawayan, Quezon Province, it is a big blessing for 43-year old Leonisa Rimolona and the rest of the residents to have the chance to provide additional classroom for their only school—the Del Rosario Elementary School. For years, three grade levels have been sharing in one classroom while some students are even sharing chairs with each other.

Thus, they did not think twice to participate when the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gathered community volunteers to implement the one-classroom elementary school building sub-project under its program, the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

Though they know how hard this project will be, considering the geographical location of their barangay, they pursued the project for their community.

“Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan para sa barangay kundi kami ring taong barangay na makikinibang nito,” said Leonisa, who became the Procurement Team Head of the volunteers.

The Kalahi-CIDSS is a DSWD poverty alleviation program that aims to improve the delivery of social services in poor and hard-to-reach communities. One of its development partners is the Australian Government-Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) that funds school facilities to areas with significant gaps in education like Brgy. Del Rosario.

The DFAT provided a total grant of PhP631,418 for the school building sub-project. This grant was used by the community volunteers to cover labor expenses, construction materials and school furniture for the sub-project.

Not an easy task

As the Procurement Team Head, Leonisa admitted that it was not an easy task to canvass materials and supplies as they are about 30 kilometers away from the town proper.

Leonisa recalled that she and the other members of the team endure the heat of the sun as they walk for an hour or two along the manmade trails of their barangay, just to reach the nearest area with available public transportation.

From there, it would take another 20 to 30 minute-ride through skates, a four-wheeled improvised sidecar that runs along the old train rails in the municipality. The ride costs PhP50 per head to the town proper.

“Hindi naman isang araw lang ang pagka-canvass. Marami kasing materyales ang kailangan sa school tulad ng semento, pintura, upuan, blackboard, ceiling fan, at iba pang kagamitan. Mahirap pero kailangang gawin para sa mga bata,” Leonisa said.

Since they are not familiar with the place, Leonisa shared that they often got lost in the town proper. This prolongs their search for service providers and causes them to go home late.

“Alas otso ng gabi na ko nakakauwi. Hindi ko na nga napaghahandaan ng hapunan ang pamilya ko. Mabuti na lang at naiintindihan nila kung para saan ang pagsasakripisyo naming ito,” she added.

The delivery of the procured materials was a different kind of challenge. The supplies were transported in a different route, which requires crossing a river. From the riverbank, the parents of the schoolchildren and members of the barangay council worked together in carrying the materials to the project site, which takes a 30 to 45 minute-walk along a manmade trail.

For three months, Leonisa and the rest of the community volunteers had this tough routine. But as soon as they saw the school building fully constructed, all the weariness disappeared. It even felt more fulfilling for Leonisa when she saw her name carved in the building marker as one of the volunteers who built the sub-project.

“Maraming luha ang nagdilig para maitayo ang building na ito. Kaya naman proud na proud kami noong makita namin na buo na siya. Ang sarap ipagmalaki sa mga anak ko, maging sa mga magiging apo ko, na isa ako sa nag-sakripisyo para mabigyan sila ng magandang classroom,” Leonisa proudly shared.

What is even more rewarding for her is that her two children, Paolo and Saira Mae, both in Grade five, use this classroom that all of them built. It is always a treat to her ears every time the two share how comfortable they are with the new classroom.

“Lahat naman ng magulang gustong mabigyan ng magandang edukasyon ang kanyang mga anak. Kaya naman napakasaya namin dito na natulungan namin ang elementary school na magkaroon ng dagdag na classroom,” she added.

The Kalahi-CIDSS school building sub-project has lessened the school’s problem on lack of classrooms. There are also enough new chairs for every student and newly-built cabinets to store their books and other school materials.

Further, the school management plans to turn a portion of the school building as a computer area since it is the safest place to house computers.

“Masisigurado na hindi mababasa ng ulan o kaya’y maiinitan ng husto ang mga computers dahil napakatibay ng building na ito. Laking pasasalamat din namin dito sa school na nagkaroon kami ng dagdag pasilidad para sa mga bata,” said Richard De Ramos, a teacher from the barangay’s elementary school.

Giving back

Leonisa exerted full effort for the school building sub-project as her act of giving back the benefits that her family receives as a beneficiary of another DSWD program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

According to her, her small sari-sari store and her husband’s income as a farmer is not enough to finance all the family’s needs. But from the time they became a beneficiary of the program in 2011, the grants they receive have been a big help on the family’s finances, especially for the education and health of their two children.

By following the set conditions of the program, Leonisa receives a grant amounting to PhP1,100 per month. She uses this to buy school supplies and vitamins of the two children and food for the whole family.

“Dati, hindi ganito kataba ang bunso ko. Pero ngayon na nabibilhan ko na sila ng vitamins at sapat na pagkain, ang lusog-lusog na niya,” said Leonisa in laughter.

Since the grant is almost enough for the children’s needs, Leonisa is able to keep some of the income from their sari-sari store. She saves this for the college education of her children in the future.

“Mahalagang mag-ipon na kahit maaga pa para kahit mawala ang Pantawid, matutustusan pa rin namin ang pag-aaral ng aming mga anak at ang kanilang mga pangangailangan,” she added.

With all these opportunities and experiences, Leonisa is thankful. For her, the two programs she has been a part of not only helped investing in her children’s future but also attaining the dream of every member of their community.#