PALO, Leyte- Different organizations and individuals were recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) here in the region for the services and assistance they extended to the department for the rebuilding of school buildings destroyed or damaged during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda. The giving of recognition by the DepEd to the organizations and individuals coincided with the department’s 39th anniversary on July 9. The activity, led by Regional Director Luisita Bautista Yu, was held at the DepEd regional office at the Government Center, Barangay Candahug, this town. Yu said that the giving of recognition to these groups and individuals was their way of showing their “pasasalamat”(gratitude) for the assistance and support they have extended to the DepEd particularly for the repair of damaged or destroyed school buildings and for the donation of school materials to children.
Yu said that the giving of the awards were presented to DepEd national office, national government, local government, inter- national partners, local partners, civil society, volunteers, non-government organizations international and local groups, individual local and international donors. The help extended by the donors were varied said Yu, from psychosocial interventions, water sanitation, food, shelter, clothing, temporary learning spaces, construction materials, school supplies, learning kits for school children, teaching kits, instructional materials, classrooms, comfort rooms, cash donations, equipment and other facilities.
Aside from the plaque of appreciation a copy of a magazine were all the donors were listed were also given to the awardees. Yolanda has resulted to the destruction of 759 schools in the region while 3,146 classrooms were completely destroyed. However, Yu said, the overwhelming support given to them by the different donors, they were able to recover and attracted children to go back to school as shown by the high turn- out of enrollment during the opening of classes. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
