CentCom opens library for poor students

CEBU, Philippines — A mini library for the less privileged students in Cebu City was inaugurated yesterday morning.

Named after Captain Cipriano A. Barva, the library sits inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (CentCom) compound in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Barangay Apas.

It will serve as a hub for donated books and other learning materials for the poor students and abandoned children.

Lieutenant General Roberto Ancan, CentCom commander, said they decided to establish the library after Romina RIzzari, a teacher of Asilo dela Milagrosa, a center for abandoned children and youth, shared their lack of library for donated books.

“With that, the Central Command took initiative to counter this perennial problem as observed during the conduct of the community support programs that most children in these areas don’t have access to education materials, such as textbooks,” he said in yesterday’s speech.

“As a fair share of support, our stakeholders agreed to facilitate the donation of books so that no children will be left behind and this constructed mini library will serve as a hub or center of the donated books and other information materials,” he added.

Ancan, who led the inauguration of the mini library, said it can also be used as a venue for research by poor students in the village.

“I believe that books aren’t just made of words, they’re also filled with places to visit and people to meet especially those less fortunate,” he said.

He said the library’s creation was also in support of the Third Civil Relations Group’s project dubbed as “Share a Book, Inspire a Life.”

CentCom partnered with the academe, the Youth for Peace and Development of the Philippines, architectural and construction firms, and other stakeholders for the establishment of the library. — KQD (FREEMAN)