Public schools in Cordillera ready to accept Itogon studes

‘Typhoon Ompong’ aftermath 

BAGUIO CITY -- Public schools in the Cordillera region are ready to accommodate students who will transfer from Itogon town, where scores of residents perished in a landslide in a mining village at the height of Typhoon Ompong last Sept. 15.

"Either they will be included in the regular classes or we could come up with special classes so as not to disrupt their education," Georaloy Palao-ay, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Education said.

He said Itogon students can report to public schools, where their families are moving to, after availing of the government’s “Balik Probinsiya” program.

He added that children of families who will be relocated to the “tent city” being set up in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet, can also go to nearby schools.

DepEd, Palao-ay said, would like to provide a conducive, safe, and motivating environment for learning and not to disrupt their studies, especially after going through the tragic experience.

He added that a number of students from Marawi City, during the terrorist siege there, also transferred to public schools in the Cordillera.

"After the Marawi seige, we gave special consideration to the transferees, so I think that would also be applicable to the Itogon transferees," Palao-ay said.

He added that the DepEd regional office will issue an advisory, a memorandum, or an order to its divisions to accommodate the students from Itogon.

The department, he said, will not ask for numerous requirements from the transferees, considering the situation.

He assured that there will be no inconvenience on the part of the students, since getting the transfer credentials and other data will be a school-to-school process.

Palao-ay said teachers can also help students who will have a difficult time coping with their studies.

“There are modules available for students to help them out,” he said. -- Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA