MASBATE PROVINCE — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday visited seven different public schools in this province weeks after classes were disrupted by armed clashes following the reported presence of New People's Army (NPA) in communities near a school.

Duterte visited Palani Integrated School in Balud, Guindawahan Elementary School in Pio Corpuz, Locso-an Elementary School and Arriesgado Sevilleno High School in Placer, Villa Hermosa Elementary School and Villa Hermosa National High School in Cawayan, and Masbate National Comprehensive High School in Masbate City.

Face-to-face classes were suspended for a week in six Masbate towns following the clashes — affecting over 55,000 learners and 2,815 school personnel.

Duterte earlier condemned the NPA for causing learning disruption in Masbate.

During the school visits, Duterte stressed on the learners the significance of education in ending the cycle of poverty.

At the Locso-on Elementary School in Placer town, she reminded students to duck and seek cover when they hear gunfire.

A day after the March 22 clash in Placer town, a video of Locso-on school children who were panicking and crying in fear while gunshots were being heard went viral online.

The Vice President also held dialogues with school heads and teachers, listening to their concerns about the education sector, such as providing school buildings, lessening the paper works of teachers, and providing stress debriefing following the clashes.

She also led the distribution of school supplies and dental kits to students in seven different public schools in this province. A total of 1,513 students from different schools in the province received the PagbaBAGo kits.

The PagbaBAGo campaign is a program which aims to instil the importance of basic education and nurture the right attitude among young Filipinos to succeed in life. It was Duterte’s program when she was still mayor of Davao City. It is now part of the Vice President’s activities during her visits in cities and towns across the country.

Aside from distributing the bags, Duterte also talks to the children’s parents, convincing them to practice responsible parenthood and family planning.

Jeanina Cababan, Head School Teacher of Guindawahan Elementary School, thanked Duterte for being the first national official and DepEd Secretary to personally visit the school to address the concerns of teachers and students.

“Salamat kaayo, ma’am Sara sa imong bisita. Sa kadaghan og eskwelahan diri sa Masbate, naapil jud sa imong pagbisita ang among eskwelahan. Lipay kaayo ming tanan kay ikaw ang kusa na niduol sa amoa, dili kay kami ang niduol sa imo. Very rare opportunity kaayo ni para sa amoa ug para sa atong mga learners (Thank you, ma’am Sara for your visit. Among the many schools here in Masbate, you chose our school as one of your stop in your visits. We are very happy that you were the one who reached out to us, not us reaching out to you. This is a very rare opportunity for us and for all our learners.),” Cababan said.

“Salamat na ang among mga tingog ug gipangayo sa imo, imong gipaminawan. Nagasalig mi na dili gyud mi nimo bigo-on mga teachers (Thank you for listening to our voices and concerns. We trust that you will never fail us teachers),” she added.

OVP MEDIA