Lapu-Lapu City island gets first ever public high school

CEBU, Philippines —  Recognizing the need to have more schools in Central Visayas, the Department of Education has approved the creation of an integrated school in the island of Caohagan in Lapu-Lapu City.

DepEd-7 regional director Salustiano Jimenez said there is no denying that the region needs more public schools. Currently, there are more than 2,000 public elementary schools and 500 public high schools in Central Visayas.

Jimenez said that they are always grateful to mayors, governors, barangay captains and other local government officials whose initiatives include helping the department in educating the youth by way of constructing and donating lots for school buildings.

Jimenez has approved the new school level in Caohagan, Lapu-Lapu City on February 28, 2023.

 “Having complied with all the requirements under DepEd Order No. 40, s2014, ‘Establishment, Merging, Conversion, Naming, Renaming of Public Schools, and Separation of Public School Annexes in Basic Education,’ this permit for conversion is hereby conferred on Caohagan Integrated School of Caohagan, Lapu-Lapu City, effective school year 2023-2024”.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan said that the suffering of high school students in the island by swimming through rough seas, wading through neck-deep waters, or hitching a pump boat ride is now put to an end with the establishment of the said integrated school which will now have a first year to second year curriculum.

Councilor Eugene Espedido said that the 13 graduating elementary students in Caohagan will soon be attending their high school classes in the island.

Earlier, the City Council passed a resolution requesting DepEd to convert the elementary school in Caohagan into an integrated school.

“Whereas, traveling to and from the separate island of Pangan-an everyday will unnecessarily expose students and parents alike to extreme dangers to life and limb, especially during unfavorable weather conditions and typhoon seasons," Resolution No. 16-0450-2022 reads.

Espedido said that this is just the start and will progress to succeeding school levels until higher years in the coming school years.

Caohagan School head Maria Niña Aying was teary-eyed when she recalled how hard it was for her and her former pupils to cross the sea.

“Mao nang among ibutang sa ibabaw sa among ulo ang among mga sinina og mga gamit aron di mabasa," recalled Aying in her brief speech during the unveiling ceremony.

Aying added that Caohagan barangay Captain Ranilo Abayan used to bring these students to school through their barangay pump boat. But typhoon Yolanda devastated their island and their pump boats.

Now, a private group has donated 29 yellow boats to fishermen. These yellow boats bring students to and from school these days.

Chan said that having a high school in a small island barangay spells the end of the two-hour walk on low tides and the perilous swim on high tides in the rough seawaters between Caohagan and Pangan-an islands just to study.

“Dako na kaayo ning ikatabang sa mga estudyante sa Caohagan kay ang eskwelahan mismo naa na sa ilang isla. We all know that education is one of the ways to get out from the bondage of poverty,” Jimenez said in an interview with The Freeman. — FPL (FREEMAN)