The Antique provincial government on Saturday said the PHP 1.7 million multi-purpose building built and turned over by the Philippine and United States Balikatan forces in a poor community in this province will be of great service to the residents, especially its learners.
In an interview, Office of the Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) consultant Margie Gadian said the building, constructed at the Inabasan Elementary School in Sibalom town, was turned over by Balikatan Forces last April 27.
“For identified poor areas ilike Inabasan to be a recipient of such project is really a big thing,” she said.
Gadian added that aside from serving as a school building, it could also be used as an evacuation center whenever the Inabasan River overflows, a temporary shelter for abused children, and any other uses that may arise.
In a separate interview, Inabasan Elementary School head Ramil Agting said they also plan to use the building as a reading center and program venue.
The school, which is about five kilometers away from the Sibalom town proper, has about 154 learners from Kinder to Grade 6, with seven classroom teachers, aside from their school head.
However, the school head noted that the actual use of the multi-purpose building would be stipulated in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique and their school which is now being drafted by the legal division.
Agting pointed out that aside from the multi-purpose building, they were also fortunate to receive office supplies and equipment that included eight laptops, three television sets, two projectors, and four printers, among others, from the Balikatan forces.
He said they also received medical supplies.
The multi-purpose building and other assistance given to the Inabasan Elementary School are part of the Engineering Civic Action Program of the Balikatan Exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Pacific Command during the Balikatan Exercises 38-23 in Western Visayas. (PNA)
