JTS TO BUILD NEW SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION CLASSROOM IN AGUSAN CANYON

Strengthening Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño's Education for All

AGUSAN CANYON - Manolo Fortich continues to benefit from the support of the South Korean missionary group, Join Together Society (JTS), as they fund another Special Needs Education (SNED) Classroom Building at Plantation Central Elementary School (CES). The school held its groundbreaking ceremony on February 20, 2025.

JTS began its operations in the Philippines in 2006 and established its headquarters in Sil-ipon, Libona. Since then, the organization has been committed to supporting various municipalities in Bukidnon, particularly local communities and remote areas where access to education and healthcare is limited. In Manolo Fortich, this marks the sixth SNED Classroom Building that JTS has donated.

JTS Philippines President Jaekuk Roh shared the group's motivation for supporting students under SNED during the groundbreaking ceremony: “Having a disability does not mean being less capable. It means needing a little extra support against daily challenges. That’s the very need to specialize the SNED classroom as this space is where they can overcome difficulties. We hope these students will meet their full potential and learn to live happy and stable lives in the new classrooms.”

The one-unit SNED Classroom Building will feature three classrooms to accommodate the learning needs of Plantation CES’ SNED students. With an estimated cost of 3.5 million pesos, construction is set to begin in April 2025. The Department of Education - 10 (DepEd 10) will provide accredited teaching staff, while the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich will closely monitor the project's progress.

Schools Division Superintendent Victoria V. Gazo highlighted the skills that SNED students will develop through this facility: “This building will have classrooms where our SNED Students will be able to learn math skills, especially social skills and develop attitudes that we need for them to be integrated in the society. So, we are very thankful to the Join Together Society for their generosity and kindness and extending their help.”

This donation strengthens the efforts of Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño’s 10-Point Agenda, "Education for All." During the ceremony, he expressed his gratitude: “This is our most prioritized project. Pasalamat gyud ta sa JTS. We wouldn’t have plenty of opportunities for our education here and dili gyud ta maka angkon og pila ka school buildings. Thank you for building schools in our municipality where even our IP Communities can also benefit.”

Present in the groundbreaking ceremony are Vice Mayor Reynaldo L. Bagayas Jr., and members of the Sangguniang Bayan Coun. Konsehal Rina E. Quiño, Coun. Joy L. Cordoves, Coun. Cristy "Tata" Leparto, Coun. Elzevir A. Dagunlay, ABC President Mary Jane P. Guilayan, and SK Federation President Princess CJ B. Padin.