Bontoc funds photocopiers, schools’ support

By Alpine Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The local government here provided two complete sets of photocopiers to be used by all public schools in this capital town in support of distance learning for its students among other financial support students. 

     The two photocopiers that come with a stand and complete set of ink were turned over by municipal officials to public schools district supervisor Bontoc district Amelia Wacangan, Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School (MPCGCHS) principal Atkinson Tudlong, and Mountain Province SPED Center and Bilig Elementary School principal Mario Kolnog August 2 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
    The photocopiers will be in place at the Bontoc Central School (BCS) to be used by all elementary and secondary public schools in Bontoc. 
    Aside from the photocopiers, the Bontoc LGU under its Special Education Fund (SEF) awarded cheques amounting to P5,000 each to 20 elementary and eight secondary public schools in Bontoc in support of Brigada Eskwela. 
    In addition, the 28 elementary and public schools Bontoc will receive their equal share of P23, 966.46 each upon their liquidation of the P5, 000 each that they recently received intended for the Brigada Eskwela. 

    The MPGCHS will also receive an additional budget of P200, 000 for its Special Program in the Arts and Special Program in Journalism.

    In his message, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said the Bontoc LGU remains committed to assisting to the extent it can, the Dept. of Education  and public schools. 

    In response, Wacangan expressed gratitude to the Bontoc LGU under the leadership of Mayor Odsey for their assistance to the education sector. 

    She said that the two photocopiers to be used by all elementary and secondary public schools in Bontoc will aid in the printing of modules for the distance learning modality being implemented in the “new normal” of education. 

    Wacangan lauded the Bontoc LGU for allotting the entire budget earmarked in the Special Education Fund to its intended purpose, and even downloading the fund to the respective schools for the latter to independently allot the budget according to the school’s needs.

    Also, she made mention of all the assistance and initiatives undertaken by the Bontoc LGU in support of the education sector. Some of these include the annual allocation of financial aid for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, District Athletic Meet, Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet, Batang Pinoy or Philippine National Games, and Alternative Learning System; the increase of the municipal government’s financial aid to the Provincial Meet to 1.2 Million Pesos for the year 2020– the highest in Mountain Province; the increase of allocation of the Oplan Pera sa Basura for cash incentives to schools; and the institutionalization of the annual Bontoc District Teachers Day Celebration and allotment of a separate budget for this purpose.

    The mayor said the municipal government has, for how many years allocated P300,000 per year for cash incentives to students who bring home gold, silver, or bronze medals.

    Only Bontoc, among all the towns in Mountain Province, which has this program.

    Wacangan added that even during the pandemic, the Bontoc LGU has looked into the protection and safety of the teachers and the students.

    This is through the provision of hand washing facilities, disposable face masks, ethyl alcohol, and thermal scanners to the public schools in Bontoc.

    The disposable facemasks were given to the teachers, students, and parents during the distribution of learning modules. 

    Aside from this, the Bontoc LGU has deployed workers in public schools to assist teachers in the distribution of learning modules and the Clean and Green Program. The workers are those employed under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers. Both programs are joint undertakings of the Bontoc LGU and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). 

    Meanwhile, for this year, the Bontoc LGU has allotted more than P1-million in support to education programs.