By Anthony A. Araos
Farm schools are interrelated to the promotion of farm tourism in Ifugao and the other 80 provinces in the Philippines. Unfortunately, a farm school is nowhere to be seen in Ifugao, a province whose dominant industry is still agriculture. I’m fervently praying for one by 2019 with a new set of provincial government officials at the helm.
A farm lot property owned by Gregory Famorca in barangay Bannit in Lamut provides a glimpse of rural life and the promise of a bountiful future long associated with the benefits of putting up a farm school. Guyyu, as he is fondly called by many in this farming town, may well be tapped to be one of the forerunners in putting up Ifugao’s first ever farm school. It shall serve as a model for all others to sprout in the province’s ten other towns. Is it possible to attract local and foreign tourists to a farm school? Calm down and don’t be a nerd. A farm school is the best place to learn the fundamentals of planting and harvesting rice and other crops. It is an integral laboratory of learning for those who are in the agriculture sector and agrarian reform beneficiaries. The best time to visit the said farm is right after the rainy season. It is nestled in a scenic natural environment.
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A recent gathering at the Dormitory Hall of the Schools Division Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Lagawe, bought to light the various stakeholders of the education sector who have been shaping the nation and the province and opportunities that these developments unfold, in the context of changing times.
As we acknowledge that it is important for the private sector to be active in the programs, projects and activities of the DepEd, it is all too important for each one to get on board in upgrading the standards of the learning process in Ifugao. Hence, the purpose of the activity- aptly called “District Convergence of Stakeholders,” is to make concerned individuals aware of the present-day developments of imparting knowledge that apply and are presently being used by educators.
All told, school heads, schools division officers and a few key figures from the private sector went to the venue for a half-day orientation of the rudiments of the “Adopt-a-School” (ASP) of the government.
Indeed, the “Adopt-a-School” program is a multi-pronged approach in handling the government’s inability to resolve the longstanding woes in public schools. I’m lauding Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Bayao-ao as well as facilitators and Sherwin Luglug for the conduct of this noteworthy activity. There are follow-up activities in Asipulo, Banaue and Aguinaldo towns in the coming weeks.
Are the conditions in our public schools promoting the national will to modernize facilities for learning? Sadly, classrooms are still dilapidated and antiquated. A number of learning institutions don’t have libraries, canteens, gymnasiums and other vital facilities. Naturally and consequently, principals and school heads are seeking the generosity of those in the provincial government and other local government units for funds. Unfortunately, provincial and municipal government bigwigs continue to drive them away for some flimsy reasons. I have written and discussed this matter in a previous column and for the nth time I submit that the stance taken by some quarters is utterly unthinkable and unacceptable. Explanations of certain individuals who are presently working at the provincial government reveal nuances that aren’t readily compatible with the intellect. The Constitution clearly says that education should get the biggest chunk of the budget. No ifs and buts! Why is this so-called Joint Circular of the DepEd, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) now being considered sacrosanct in dealing with the needs of the education sector? This Joint Circular is merely an incredibly stupid piece of paper. It was penned by some incredibly stupid people. Now, some incredibly stupid individuals are adhering to it.
Lack of classrooms, facilities and teachers continue to hound the public education sector in the Philippines. A makeshift-type classroom at Aguinaldo was revealed during this meeting. By the way, Aguinaldo is a second-class municipality. The remaining ten towns are either fourth or fifth-classes in classification. Understanding the problem in distant villages is not even difficult—and I’m sure it will get even more challenging as one realizes that public funds are all derived from taxes paid by the people—but this employee at the provincial or municipal government has gotten an ill-advised order. And he or she will simply obey. For the meantime, conditions are unbearable at Montabiong Elementary School. Situated in a far-flung village of the capital town of Lagawe, a fourth-class town, classrooms were designed and constructed in the 1950s. Buyabuyan Elementary School, another institution located in a remote Lagawe village, is not fit or conducive for learning. My heart is bleeding when I saw the pitiful conditions at Piwong Elementary School (in Hingyon) and Banaue Central School.
Lagawe Central School, the largest public elementary school in Ifugao in terms of enrollment, currently is facing a problem on floods. One the other hand, Cudog Elementary School- also located in Lagawe, is faced with a landslide problem. God forbids, disaster hits these schools and there are casualties there is nothing in this world that is going to stop me from seeking legal or judicial relief as a consequence of the sheer stupidity of certain quarters. Make no mistake there are many others who shall run after you and tear down to pieces your ridiculous arguments. For starters, go find yourself a sanctuary at Nahtoban Cave in barangay Bolliwong in Lagawe!
In hindsight, the Joint Circular of the DepEd, DBM and DILG is anti-poor and anti-education. It should end up in a garbage bin! If certain quarters are pushing for a shift to a federal form of government ostensibly to discard the present unitary type, why not get rid of a circular crafted to satisfy the whims and caprices of a few individuals. It is indeed a pity that those in the education sector, most especially the poor pupils and students, are bearing the brunt of an edict “where funds may only be utilized for the construction of gymnasiums since the same serve as evacuation centers.” Hence, forming a new mindset on this matter is of paramount importance.
In pursuit of our dedication to serve more people and to continue to contribute to nation building and economic growth felt by all, I am also pursuing the advocacy of upgrading the facilities of public schools in Ifugao and improving the conditions of public school teachers.
Equally disturbing is the fact that the plight of the province’s overworked but underpaid teachers is not a concern of the officialdom. Would you believe that the basic monthly pay of a Teacher I (or at the entry level) is Php 20,179? The base pay of a Police Officer I or a private is about Php 30,000. The basic monthly salary of a janitor at Makati City Hall is even higher than a Teacher I. The teacher’s impetus to mold the minds of the young covers the tasks of preparing lesson plans, tutoring pupils, going over examinations, assignments and term papers, attending meetings, guiding students at competitions and even joining parades. They also exercise critical duties during elections. To my mind, there is a pressing need to raise the entry salary of teachers to Php 30,000 for them to adjust to the high cost of living.
To complicate matters, here’s the bad news! Under the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2019 or the national budget of Php 3.757 trillion, the DepEd budget will be reduced by Php 77 billion compared with its 2018 budget. What are the consequences of such an ill-advised move? Surely, the construction of vital school buildings is likely to drop significantly. This is detrimental to the intent of addressing the acute shortage of school buildings and classrooms. Hold it folks, I’m just dissecting the problem on classroom shortage. How about the procurement of textbooks, chairs, tables, blackboards and other items needed in a classroom? How about the funds earmarked for hiring new teaching posts, non-teaching personnel and senior high requirements? Fact: while the DepEd got an allocation of Php 2.56 billion in 2014 to purchase science and math kits for Grades 1 to 3, not a single one was bought that year. The initial purchase of the DepEd reportedly took place only in July of 2015.
The act of pruning down the budget of DepEd by a staggering amount of Php 77 billion by any account is absolutely condemnable. It is retrogressive for it is a step in the wrong direction. It doesn’t make any sense at all. Education plays an important role in undercutting the nation’s mounting poverty incidence. It is an indispensable part of the national vision and agenda,
Would you want the problems on the harshness of a highly questionable and objectionable joint circular of three government departments, shabby and poor treatment of lowly-paid teachers and now the ill-timed slashing of the budget of the education department by an astonishing amount of Php 77 billion to persist?
I am crossing my fingers and praying to the high heavens that our beloved teachers are always well taken care of by the powers-that-be, They truly deserved a better deal from the present dispensation. Those who walk in the corridors of power and continuously turn a deaf ear to the pleas of mentors for funding assistance should express gratitude for the act of selfless sacrifice of their teachers who transformed them into productive members of society. They should be efficient, trustworthy and prudent enough to safeguard the well-being of teachers who brought them exactly to their present and lofty positions.
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There are three major protagonists who are slugging it out in Ifugao for vice governor in the 2019 midterm elections. They are Board Members Victor Bunnol Jr. and James Frederick Dulnuan and Alfonso Lista Mayor Glenn Prudenciano. All of them are serving their last terms.
The vice governor is the presiding officer of the powerful and influential Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board). He or she provides guidance, inspiration and motivation to the board members. Collectively, the members of this august body are expected to exert their utmost in the task of the attaining quality legislation. As legislators, SP members must ensure that nobody among Ifugao folks gets left behind, most especially those in marginalized sectors. Quality legislation refers to crafting laws geared to uplift the lives of the people. How do you ensure that impoverished people get to enjoy the benefits and privileges of a pro-poor law by merely commending awardees, winners of a contest and so-and-so?
In the field of eco-tourism, the next Vice Governor should venture to eco-tourism programs to promote environmental awareness and education among the public. I am ready and willing to help the incoming Vice Governor launch perhaps a Watershed Eco-Park in a first district town and another one in the second district. This is timely and relevant. This is indeed a doable venture.
In managing the province’s watersheds, it is essential to implement watershed rehabilitation, watershed protection and resources development programs. Partnership with the private sector is the only option in saving Ifugao’s vast but dwindling watersheds and forests. I went around the provincial capitol building and inquired on matters related to the foregoing discussion. The seat of the government has failed miserably in knowing, understanding and appreciating climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration and reduction of sedimentation and much less soil erosion. What went wrong for the men and women of the provincial government?
The next vice governor must have in-depth strategic assessment of the causes of environmental degradation in Ifugao.
Vice Governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw’s successor should demonstrate leadership, sincerity, intelligence and commitment in hiring competent, hardworking and dedicated personnel at the Office of the Vice Governor. They should be prompt, courteous and show respect for individuals, NGOs, POs and CSOs in the way they handle their requests. Vice Governor Gullitiw is running for Governor under the ruling PDP-Laban ticket.
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A tip for success: See and view things in a bigger perspective. There is a need for most people to start thinking big, so that projects and endeavors are dramatically improved. We need to educate and equip the young on how to think big and be risk-takers in order to excel in school.
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For our food delights corner: It is a nice surprise for the family and loved ones to have the best treats of the rainy season. So go for sinigang na hipon (shrimps), grilled pork in barbecue sauce, boiled eggplant and java rice. Savor the shrimp soup at a separate cup easy and fuss free.
For appetizers and dessert: vanilla cake, sliced papaya and chilled apple juice. What a great meal at lunch time, that’s what people are going to say. This is a classic combination of superb Philippine food items. It is going to be alright with a prayer on the side.
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Here is a thought for our readers: “To cross that poverty line, we must create more jobs and reduce the underemployment rate to below 10 percent, keep more Filipinos in school and have more of them graduate, and focus on maternal health and child care.” 1-Pacman Partylist Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero.**
