MORE NEWS, KALINGA

Kalinga board asks P7M from senators to construct nine rural school buildings
TABUK CITY - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently approved two resolutions asking senators Manuel Villar and Alan Peter Cayetano to fund the construction of nine school buildings in the province.

Authored by board member Fernando Abay, the first resolution is requesting P5 million from Senate president Villar for the construction of five school buildings to replace the old and dilapidated schools namely the Gawaan Elementary School and Tawang Elem. School in Balbalan; Balinciagao Sur Elem. School of Pasil; Southern Tinglayan National High School in Tinglayan; and Aciga Elem. School in Pinukpuk. Each school is proposed to be allocated P1 million.

The second resolution is requesting for P2 million from Cayetano to fund the construction of four other school buildings in the province namely: Ab-abaan Elementary School and Bayao Elementary School of Pinukpuk; Calanan Elmentary School of Tabuk City; and Tanglag Elementary School of Lubuagan. Each unit will be needing at least P500,000 to fund its construction.

During a recent SP session, Abay said these old schools needed immediate replacement since some are already dilapidated posing danger to the students while more school buildings are needed in several campuses to address the overcrowding of students due to the rapid increase of children in said areas.

It is imperative he said to construct additional buildings and replace the dilapidated schools to provide school children and students better buildings, facilitating the government’s goal of providing and making quality education accessible to all Filipinos.

In his resolution, Abay also cited that Kalinga being one of the poorest provinces in the country could not provide the needed funds to address these needs considering that the province is dependent on its Internal Revenue Allotment.

Meanwhile, Abay also authored another resolution asking Senator Francisco Escudero III for P1 million for the concreting of the road going to the Kalinga Sports Complex in the Tabuk City.

The approximately one and a half kilometer road stretch which is being used during various sports activities in the province like the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association sports competition is also regularly used by students studying in a nearby school located beside the Sports Complex .

However, the rough condition of road has been causing discomfort and inconvenience for those traversing the area since during the dry season it is bumpy and dusty and becomes slippery, inundated and muddy during the rainy season. -- GGD


Kalinga office pledges 399 slots for summer jobs
TABUK CITY, Kalinga - The Public Employment Services Office of the provincial government recently pledged a total of 399 slots for students to avail of the Special Program for Employment of Students this summer.

Provincial PESO manager Geronimo Donaal said the pledge is beyond the number allotted by the Department of Labor and Employment for their P400,000 counterpart for the province.

“We will be needing a total amount of P593,906.00 to fund our pledge of 399 scholars for this summer,” he said informing that their office will be appealing to DOLE-CAR to allot the needed amount to accommodate the 399 students.

He said the government is giving chance to the 399 students to pursue their education by employing them in productive jobs this summer vacation to earn money for their tuition fees and other school expenses in time for the opening of classes in June.

Applicants will undergo the usual screening and interview before they could avail the program.

To qualify, students should be at least 15 years of age but not more than 25 years old with passing grades, and their parents' combined incomes must not exceed P36,000 per annum.

Sixty percent of the wages of SPES beneficiaries shall be paid by the employer in cash, and the other 40 percent by the government in the form of a voucher applicable in the payment of the student's tuition fees and books in any secondary, tertiary, or technical-vocational institutions.

The scholars will be paid depending on the class of municipality where they will be working. Donaal said that for those who will be working in Tabuk City or the provincial government, grantees will be receiving a wage of P207.91 per day. The amount of P173.27 a day will be given for those working in a second class municipality and P168.00 for those who will be employed in a fourth class municipality.

The SPES for the current summer season is now on full steam implementation starting in the middle of March from which the students will be working for 20 days.

By virtue of Republic Act No. 7323, this government program enables students to surmount the financial difficulties of their poor families by giving them opportunities for temporary summer or Christmas vacation employment geared at assisting them to continue or complete their education or training. -- GGD