Dumaguete turns over Cittadini school facilities to DepEd

By Roi Lomotan

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo (front) and DepEd- 7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez (2nd row, 2nd from right) inspect one of the classrooms inside the former Cittadini School. (RAL/PIA7-NegOr)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Dumaguete City local government has turned over the facilities of the former Cittadini School to the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7, which will soon be used by students and faculty of the City Central Elementary School and Calindagan Elementary School. 

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo said the classrooms, halls, and courts will provide a conducive learning atmosphere for students and a suitable venue for their extra-curricular activities. 

Remollo announced in May that the Ursuline Sisters of  Somasca, a congregation of nuns operating the former Catherina Cittadini School, agreed to sell the entire 1.8 hectare property in Barangay Calindagan to the city government for P175 million payable in installment basis. 

City Public Information Officer Katherine Aguilar said the Somascan sisters decided to sell their property because they trust the current administration will continue their legacy and mission of educating young people. 

The mayor said the city government’s purchase of the property is timely because they are looking for a relocation site for the City Central Elementary School (CCES). 

CCES is currently located at the City Hall compound, which is not a suitable place for a campus. 

Remollo added that the city government also decided to relocate the students of Calindagan Elementary School (CLES), which is the nearest public elementary school in the area. 

The turnover of the facilities to DepEd-7 on June 6 was attended by Remollo, DepEd7 regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, vice mayor Maisa Sagarbarria, and city administrator Lilani Ramon. 

DepEd7 will occupy the facility on a usufruct agreement with the city. 

Jimenez thanked the city government as the current location of CCES is no longer conducive for learning due to congested traffic and the number of people passing by the school to transact at the City Hall. 

Staying at the current location would also result in limiting the number of enrollees since DepEd can no longer build additional classrooms in the area. 

“We see to it that the basic education that has been produced by DepEd shall also be of quality. We can only have quality if all other components are present and one of them is a conducive learning place and away from disturbance. I see and observe that this Cittadini School which will become a public school soon is a place to be,” Jimenez said.

The facilities inside the former Cittadini School include dozens of standard size classrooms, a gymnasium, laboratories, cafeterias, chapel, road network with adequate parking space, playground, grotto, among others. 

Remollo also reiterated the city government’s commitment to provide adequate learning facilities to the students.

“Whatever you need, we have a buffer of P3 million that would have been used to refurbish Calindagan Elementary School can now be used to do some connective works or do whatever you see fit to be done in this facility,” Remollo said. 

The mayor also instructed the City Engineer’s Office to provide three access gates on the western side of the campus facing the Dumaguete City National High School to accommodate the students and teachers while avoiding traffic congestion at the national highway.

Both Jimenez and Remollo assured that the classrooms will be ready before the start of classes in July. 

Senators lead cash payout of over P16M under AICS in Dumaguete City

By Jenifer Catan-Tilos

Senator Imee Marcos (center) during the distribution of financial assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situations (AICs) program of the DSWD – 7 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete City. (PIA7-NegOr)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Raymunda Visagas, a retired teacher who became the vice-president of a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), thanked the government after she received her financial assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD).

Visagas is one of around 2,000 PTA member-beneficiaries who each received P3,000 from the 2nd District in the province.

Visagas, 61, a PWD from Barangay Pantao, Mabinay said she was delighted for the cash aid as this will also help augment her working student’s allowance.

“Unexpected kini na ayuda and this is my first time to receive it. I feel happy kay makatabang sab namo kay voluntary ra baya among pagka officer sa PTA. Nalipay mi na gitagaan mi aning privilege sa government,” said Raymunda.

(This assistance is unexpected for me as this is my first time to receive it. I feel happy because this will help us financially, as being a PTA officer is just voluntary. We’re glad to be given this privilege from the government.) 

She added that there are parents who refused to be PTA officers due to other obligations.  

“Thankful mi na gitagaan mig pagtagad ni President Marcos kaming mga PTA officers, sa nangaging panahon wala mi kadawat ingon niani,” added Visagas.

(We are thankful to President Marcos for giving us attention. In the past, we have not received anything like this.)

For Gomer Areglado, 57, PTA president of Dr. Ernesto Uy National High School in Barangay Lumbangan, Mabinay, the AICS program is beneficial for the parents to help them in their children’s additional expenses.

 “I have four kids in school. Sa kalisud karon dakong na kining ikatabang,” said Areglado. 

(With life being hard lately, this assistance will help us a lot.)

Sen. Imee Marcos led the AICS payout together with Gov. Manuel L. Sagarbarria and 2nd District Rep. Manuel T. Sagarbarria.  

The senator cited the need to provide financial assistance to different sectors as social protection especially that the province has earlier declared a state of calamity due to the El Niño Phenomenon. 

Alternate social welfare and development team leader John Michael Rollorata of DSWD said that aside from the PTA members, 1,891 students also received educational assistance under AICS worth P5,000 each. 

In the same cash distribution, around 600 beneficiaries also received P2,000 financial assistance during the visit of Senator Francis Tolentino in Dumaguete City. 

The beneficiaries are solo parents, students, senior citizens and indigent residents. 

Tolentino and Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo led the distribution of the cash aid for the recipients from 15 barangays as verified by DSWD. 

Persons with disabilities also received wheelchairs from Tolentino. 

Coffee farmers get help to boost production

By Jenifer Catan-Tilos

Bukidnon tribe leader, Eric Eleccion (far right) of Mag-uumang Lumad Bukidnon sa Barangay Masulog, join the coffee tasting session during the Coffee Farm-to-Cup training conducted by the Canlaon City LGU, Negros Oriental provincial government, and Negros Oriental Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association (NOHRRA). (PIA Negros Oriental)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Bukidnon tribe leader Eric Eleccion of Mag-uumang Lumad Bukidnon sa Barangay Masulog (MLBM) in Canlaon City thanked the government for giving their group the opportunity to learn new farming techniques under the Coffee Farm-to-Cup training by the local government.

The 92-member MLBM has been planting coffee for 11 years now.

However, Eleccion admitted that due to inadequate knowledge and technology, their production has suffered. 

“Kami nga tribu sa Bukidnon nalipay mi ug dako nga nakaapil niniing training kay syempre dako mig dugan kahibalo para sa among komunidad, sa among pagka IP dako sab nig  makatabang sa amo na grupo,” Eric said.

(We, the Bukidnon tribe, are happy to be part of this training as this will add to our knowledge for the community, and being an IP, this will also help us as a group.)

Currently, the IPs (indigenous people) have five hectares of Robusta coffee farm. 

The farm used to be 14 hectares but it was reduced after typhoon Odette (international name Rai) struck the country, which resulted in a low buying price in the market.

“Karon gitabangan mi sa LGU (local government unit). Nalipay mig dako na at least kon naay mi produkto na kape naa mi kabaligyaan, nalipay mig dako naay intervention ingon ani but kinahanglan mi ug ayuda sa LGU sama sa seeds o binhi, and equipment,” said Eric.

(Now that the LGU has assisted us, we are so glad that at least our coffee product will be sold. We are also glad for this kind of intervention, but we need assistance from the LGU such as seeds and equipment.)

Teodoro Mission, 52, president of Malaiba Agro-Forestry Farmer and Workers Association (MAFWA), also thanked the Canlaon LGU for giving them the chance to look for coffee buyers. 

“Matudloan pa mi ug insaktong pamaagi para motaas ang kalidad sa among kape,” added Mission.

(We are also taught how we can improve the quality of our coffee.) 

Although MAFWA has 252 members, only 17 of them are into coffee planting due to the low buying price, lack of market assurance, and the lengthy process. 

The group has been planting coffee since 2013 under the National Greening Program as part of their agroforestry livelihood. 

“Mas nindot kay natudloan mi sa processo sa pagtanum then pag harvest, mas nindot ni sya kon ma process ug maayo ang kape para taas ang iyahang value or presyo sa kape sa merkado,” said Mission.

(This is better now that we are taught the proper way to plant and harvest. This is also better if the coffee is processed properly to increase the value and price of coffee in the market.)

Mission has sold coffee at P300 per kilo to business owner Lanz Mirondo, who also volunteered to train the coffee farmer-organizations in Canlaon City. 

The buying price before was only P120 or less. 

“Mas na encourage mi motanum kay nakita namo ang potential diay ang kape dasun kon dako iyahang kalidad sa kape mo mahal jud ang presyo,” said Mission.

(We are encouraged to plant more as we see the potential in coffee. The better the quality, the higher we can sell it for.) 

The training on right processing of coffee beans from harvesting to drying and preparation for roasting was conducted by the Canlaon City, provincial government, and Negros Oriental Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association (NOHRRA).

The three coffee farmer organizations, including the Pula Agro-Forestry Farmers and Workers Association with 300 members, are now motivated to produce more premium quality coffee that can command higher prices in the market.

Mirondo, who owns Triad Coffee Roaster, said that together with the LGUs, the training also aims for the farmers to learn the right processing if they want to increase the quality of their coffee and demand a good price in the market from P500 to P800.

“The quality of coffee plays an important role in increasing the price, and there is a potential to improve the coffee industry in the province,” said Mirondo.

The training also aims to increase productivity and pricing in the market for the farmers with the support of the government by providing them with a processing area, warehouse, equipment, dryers, and mentors. 

With the existing coffee farms in Canlaon City where Kanlaon Volcano is located, it has a great potential for coffee farming because of its fertile soil.  

Canlaon City councilor Angel Amador-Soliva, chair of the Committee on Tourism, Culture and the Arts, said the city is developing a farm tourism circuit to offer more activities to tourists.

“We help the farmers to connect to the right buyers in the market while providing or support some farm implements,” said Soliva.

The LGU is now considering providing more seminars, benchmarking, farm tours, as well as providing more facilities and funds for the coffee farmers, said Soliva.