LAKAW TA PARA SA BATA 2024: BRINGING HOPE AND BUILDING FUTURES

Awol Integrated School receives school supplies from PESO

The Public Employment and Scholarship Office (PESO), with the support of Municipal Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño, conducted Lakaw Ta Para Sa Bata 2024 with the theme “Kaalaman at Pangarap: Handog ng mga Kagamitan para sa Kinabukasan ng Kabataan,” providing school supplies to 200+ grade 1-6 students from Awol Integrated School in Barangay Lunocan on July 19, 2024. The school supplies included notebooks, paper, pencils, ballpoint pens, sharpeners, and erasers.

The program is a facet of the Angel Tree project of the Department of Labor and Employment, which aims to fight against child labor with the assistance of networks of patrons and supporters through grassroots initiatives like educational and medical assistance, training and livelihood opportunities for parents, among other things. The school supplies benefit parents who struggle to afford them, particularly those who have two or more children in school.

Technical Skills and Development Center Officer-in-Charge Roger Molina initiated the program in partnership with and sponsorship from Pizzakaya, with owner Mirasol Gumadlas, who also provided the students with champorado and burgers. Molina emphasized, “Kaning tanan nga among gihatag sainyo dili ni maoy makapahuman kaninyo mga bata. Kami nga naas gobyerno ang among tikang, ang among panlantaw, ang among plano, kabahin kamo. Dili kini programa sa PESO, gi-create ko lang kini kay og gusto ka mausab ang imong kinabuhi ug muasenso ang imong kinabuhi pag-eskwela taman mu-graduate ka. Pagtuun og negosyo para mas muasenso ka ug pag-apil og mga skills training,” encouraging the grade schoolers that the government will assist them, but their future is solely in their hands.

Cherrylee Hemonga-Dofredo, an Awol Integrated School Grade III Adviser and parent, expressed gratitude to the activity's organizers. “Isip usa ka maestra ug ginikanan, ako nagpasalamat sa PESO, LGU Manolo Fortich sa gihatag nga school supplies sa learners sa Awol Intergrated School. Dako ni og tabang sa mga studyante labi na sa mga ginikanan aron naay magamit ang ilang anak karong balik napud ang klase, more blessings to come,” stated Dofredo.

Present was Awol Integrated School Head Matias A. Tanasas, who expressed his appreciation to MF PESO for choosing the school as a beneficiary of the program this year. Barangay Captain Niel Bacayana was also present to show his support and thanks for the program, “Dako kaayo ni og ikatabang sa atong mga ginikanan labi na atong maglisod gayud og palit sa kinahanglanon sa atong mga kabataan.”

The provision of school supplies is only one approach to addressing the significant barriers that low-income families in Manolo Fortich face in providing their children with a quality education. It is essential to put into practice a comprehensive program that includes interventions to increase educational access, enhance the quality of teaching and learning, and provide families with support. Thankfully, the Local Government of Manolo Fortich continues to demonstrate its commitment to investing in the future of its youth through initiatives like Lakaw Ta Para Sa Bata program.