PAQUIBATO, Davao City - The Department of Education (DepEd) - Paquibato District and the 89th Infantry Battalion spearheaded the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of Butay Elementary School-Paraiso Annex on October 12, 2020.
It can be recalled that Paraiso Elementary School was established last School Year 2019 through the efforts of Barangay Officials and the DepEd to cater to Indigenous Peoples (IP) schoolchildren who have to hike two hours to reach the nearest elementary school in Sito Butay of the same barangay.
However, the schoolchildren have to utilize the existing makeshift Day Care Center due to the absence of established classrooms in the area.
Meanwhile, the 89th Infantry (MAKATAO) Battalion has deployed its Modified Community Support Program (MCSP) team early this year in the Sitio to engage the community which was a former conflict-affected area and safe haven of a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) under alias Parago and later on under alias Jinggoy.
While the MCSP team was conducting a need assessment survey of the members of the IP community, the concern of the availability of a classroom was raised.
With this, the MCSP team under LT JEFTE A ABBE took the initiative to collaborate with DepEd School in Charge, Mr. Niel Anthony Momo, and other stakeholders to construct a makeshift classroom that will serve as a decent facility conducive to learning.
The project was made possible and successful through the “Bayanihan” concept - with the people of Sitio Paraiso as manpower, the government officials, and private individuals as providers of the construction materials, and personnel of the unit as foreman and carpenters.
The school is a two-classroom structure with concrete walls and zinc roofing sheets and presently has 77 enrolled elementary students.
The school is the 10th school that was built by the unit in the IP communities. There are now three makeshift schools in Paquibato District and seven more in the most far-flung Sitios of Kitaotao and San Fernando, Bukidnon.
The inauguration and turn-over ceremony was attended by DepEd elementary school heads of Paquibato District, Barangay Officials, Tribal Leaders, private stakeholders, donors, and members of 89th IB and 1003rd Infantry Brigade.
LTC SILAS D TRASMONTERO, Battalion Commander, emphasized the need for convergence of both the government and the private sector to effectively address the issues being exploited by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) especially poverty, lack of education, and land conflict.
This is only one of the manifestations of how EO70 or the whole of nation approach works in ending communist armed conflict in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Source: Civil-Military Operations Office, 89th Infantry Battalion, Joint Task Force Agila, PA
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