Inauguration of New Classroom under Adopt- A- School Program in Remote Community

Under the ASP tripartite partnership of TPEF, TSP and Department of Education, the newly constructed classroom was officially inaugurated by the Torm Shipping Philippines (TSP) represented by Jesper Jensen, Head of Technical Division and TPEF BOT Chairman, and Michael Rogado, TSP and TPEF BOT President, Sally Ullalim, CESO V, Schools Division Superintendent, Rosendo Cacap, Chief of School Governance Operations Division, Jacinto Yassan, Public Schools District Supervisor of Paracelis, and Torm Philippines Education Foundation representative on June 17 at Addang Elementary School- Ambatutong Extension School in Vudder, Bunot, Paracelis, Mountain Province. Around 250 people attended the event.

Representatives from Department of Education, Division of Mountain Province, TSP, and TPEF take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The one-storey classroom will benefit 45 learners from kindergarten to grade six with a multi- level grade system handled by three teachers.

The program commenced with the blessing of the classroom initiated by a local priest in barangay Bunot. “It will allow for more children to have access to a primary school education and children will be motivated to go to school since the classroom is new”, Father Marcelo Linggayo said.

During the turnover ceremony, Jesper Jensen said that he was happy that Torm Philippines was involved and had contributed to the education in the remote community. “It was two years ago when we started planning and later visited the place. Now the project becomes a reality and I am very happy to see the result,” he added.

Construction of the classroom during the first quarter of 2019

The Schools Division Superintendent, Sally Ullalim CESO V, also expressed her gratitude to the people. “This is the first time in the history of the municipality of Paracelis. A dream come true for the educators and the community to have a concrete classroom. Thank you Torm for all the blessings and thanks to all the internal and external stakeholders who participated in the ceremony,” she said. She also challenged the educators to give their best efforts in teaching and to serve the community as the DepEd division will continue working to improve the quality of education especially at the remotest areas.

The almost completed classroom with toilet and chairs

Included also in the program was the Scholars Alumni Association’s (SAA-TPEF) turn-over of donation amounting to 26,000 pesos for the water tank of the school. The water source in the area is quite far. At present, the school uses a hosepipe from the water source uphill down to the school site so the teachers and learners can have water for drinking, and cleaning. The assistance was received by Amalia Sudkaren, Teacher In-Charge of Addang Elementary School- Ambatutong Extension School, with Shirley Ayeona Nabunat, School Principal of the main school, and Jacinto Yassan, Public Schools District Supervisor of Paracelis.

“We have received a lot of blessings from Torm. No words can express how grateful we are in Ambatutong,” TIC Amalia Sudkaren said during her closing speech. The event ended with a thanksgiving traditional dance participated by the stakeholders.

The newly constructed classroom nestled in the hills of Paracelis.