SALLAPADAN, Abra (PIA) – From a makeshift hut to a two-classroom school building with equipment, the Manicbel Primary School is now serving better learners in a far-flung sitio in Abra.
Accessible Primary Education
The upland Sitio Mabongtot in Barangay Ud-udiao in the town of Sal-lapadan is one of the remote areas in the province of Abra.
Learners in the village had to walk an hour to the nearest primary school in Sitio Nangas-asan.
“Kasi noon, naglalakad ang mga bata from 6 o’clock to 7 o’clock papunta po sa Nangas-asan Primary School. At tsaka iyong daanan po noon ay risky, wala pa pong four-wheels na nakakapunta po dito sa amin,” shared Manicbel Primary School Teacher-In-Charge Anthony Batalao.
In 2018, the Manicbel Primary School was established to bring primary education closer to the Tingguian learners in Sitio Mabongtot. It was a satellite school of Nangas-asan Primary School.
The village school was made of light materials like wood and bamboo so it needed regular repairs since it is prone to damages all year round.
“Every quarter po kaming nagbabayanihan para mag-repair po doon sa old school namin kasi made up of light materials lang po,” Teacher Narry Ann Magayam shared.
Better learning facilities
In 2022, the Department of Education (DepEd) completed the construction of a two-classroom school building for Manicbel Primary School complete with slope protection, water system and furniture.
The more than P19.2 million facility was funded under the Last Mile School Program for 2022.
“Laking pasalamat ng mga tagarito na mayroong na-create na eskwelahan dito po sa aming lugar,” said Batalao.
He added that since the construction of the school, computers, school equipment and other gadgets were also provided.
Meanwhile, Magayam said the new school building created a positive impact in their community.
“May mga kababayan po kaming nasa lowlands, ngayon po gusto po nilang bumalik dito para mag-aral kasi may nakita na silang magandang building,” she explained.
With the new school building, Magayam also shared that their learners are excited to go to school.
“Ang mga learners po namin dito po sa Manicbel Primary School ay very energetic po. Sa pagpasok pa lang is very energetic,” she said.
Grade 3 pupil Angel Magayam shared that the new school building provides a better learning environment for them.
“Noong dati po kasi parang kubo lang po kasi yung paaralan namin dito at kapag umuulan, binabaha po kami sa loob. Pero noong dumating na po itong school building ay hindi na po kami binabaha sa loob,” she said.
Smiles at the Last Mile
Through the Last Mile Program, schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas like the Manicbel Primary School, are given assistance such as transforming makeshift classrooms to concrete school buildings and providing solar power to schools with no electricity.
This program is part of the efforts of the DepEd to ensure that quality and sustainable education reaches the remote and conflict-affected communities in the country. (JJPM – PIA CAR, Abra)
