Dumanjug gets new road, classrooms

CEBU, Philippines — Two barangays situated far from the town proper of Dumanjug, about 80 kilometers southwest of Cebu City, were the latest recipients of new school buildings courtesy of the Cebu provincial government.

The school buildings were part of the P20 million worth of infrastructure projects that the Capitol turned over the municipality on Tuesday.

Officials led by Governor Hilario Davide III first turned over a two-classroom building worth P2.1 million in Tubod-Dugoan Elementary School. The village is located 15 kilometers away from Dumanjug proper.

With the governor were Cebu Seventh District Representative Peter John Calderon, Provincial Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, and Dumanjug Mayor Rene Asentista.

The team then proceeded to Balaygtiki Elementary school, where it turned over another two-classroom building worth P1.98 million. The turnover took place on the same day the school was holding its graduation ceremony.

Davide and company also traveled further up in the mountains to formally open a P13.96-million concrete road that stretches from Barangay Ylaya to Kantangkas to Pawa.

A daycare center worth P715,239 was also turned over in Barangay Bullogan; another one worth P730,150 in Barangay Kantangkas; and yet another one in Barangay Cotcoton worth P538,798.

Davide expressed optimism that the new facilities will benefit children and families living in far-flung villages where classroom shortage is a common problem.

“Sila man gud ang layo sa Poblacion, layo sa sentro. We know nga kasagaran sa problems gyud sa mga schools lack of classrooms and most of these schools are in the barangays nga layo sa sentro,” he said.

Last Thursday, Davide also led the turnover of a covered court at the Mantalongon Elementary School in Dalaguete town. The Capitol donated P1.7 million to help complete the structure.

The project started as an initiative of the school's Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) to shield students from heat or rain during school activities.

According to PTA president John Moran, it took over a decade before the court was finally completed due to lack of funds.

Mantalongon is a mountain barangay located 13 kilometers away from Dalaguete proper and serves as the province’s vegetable basket.

Mantalongon Barangay Captain Josephine Nepomuceno extended her gratitude to the Capitol for helping the school realize one of its long-time goals.

The turnover ceremony was held in time for the graduation ceremony of the school’s Grade 6 pupils, during which Davide extended his congratulations to the graduates before leaving for Sibonga town to distribute cash incentives to the barangay workers. — JMD (FREEMAN)