26 May 2015
Just in time for the opening of classes on June 1, students in a public elementary school in one of the country's most populous barangays received furniture that they need most —armchairs.
The 2,500 armchairs were turned over to officials of Bagong Silang Elementary School in Caloocan City for use of students who can now look forward to studying in a better learning environment.
"Giving the students armchairs, where they can sit comfortably, write and concentrate, is the first step towards creating an educational system that attracts and holds eager young students," Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva said.
Villanueva led the turnover of the furniture to the school officials and local executives led by Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan and Rita Riddle, officer-in-charge of Caloocan City's office of the school division superintendent.
The ceremony was also highlighted by the distribution of scholarship vouchers to selected youth beneficiaries, demonstration of skills of technical vocational graduates and provision of free services to some 2,000 audience, such as massage and hair cut.
The city government also provided free medical check-up.
How the armchairs made their way to schools all over the country was of an interesting origin made possible by the collaboration of TESDA, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and PAGCOR in a project called Pinoy Bayanihan.
Hot logs seized by the Bureau of Customs and the DENR were turned over to TESDA, which established production centers in key areas and manufacture d the logs into armchairs using the training-cum-production approach and with funding from PAGCOR.
The DepEd chooses the beneficiary schools of the furniture. The project aims to eradicate the shortage in classroom chairs in public schools nationwide.
"Funds are limited and the schools' needs are exceedingly great, but ingenuity and cooperation will make endeavors happen," Villanueva said.
"The Aquino administration will not stop looking for ways to give the children quality education and a good learning environment," he added.
Share this page
