Villanueva school showcases what unity can do

“IT’S great that we unite and help each other in Brigada Eskwela!”

This was how barangay councilor Carmen Flores of Balacanas described the conduct of “Brigada Eskwela” by FDC Misamis Power Corp. (FDC Misamis) at the Tambobong-Balacanas Integrated School (TBIS) in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental during the recently conducted nationwide National Schools’ Maintenance Week program of the Department of Education (Deped).

The firm, a subsidiary of FDC Utilities Inc. under the Filinvest Group of Companies, is building the biggest power project in Northern Mindanao – a 405-mw Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) coal thermal plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Packed and enforced by 56 employees, cadets and contractors turned volunteers, FDC Misamis rehabilitated the electrical wirings and fixtures in all the three school buildings of Tambobong-Balacanas Integrated School (TBIS).

The company also provided materials for the construction of three lavatories for its high school buildings.

Assisted by parents, students and teachers, the power firm volunteers also led in the painting of classrooms on the 3rd floor of the school main building occupied by the high school department.

FDC Misamis also gave TBIS an emergency kit equipped with medicines and medical apparatus needed during emergency cases in school.

“This is really a big help to our school,” said Flores, who’s also the incumbent treasurer of the Parent-Teacher Community Association (PTCA) of Tambobong-Balacanas, referring to the power firms’ donation and participation in the integrated school.

“In fact, this is the first time that a private company like FDC Misamis helped us in our Brigada Eskwela,” she stressed.

Lorilyn Agbong, TBIS principal, concurred with Flores’ claim, noting that in the past three years of being at the school’s helm, it was the first time that she encountered having a private stakeholder joining their Brigada Eskwela.

TBIS teachers likewise affirmed that this partnership is a first since the school was established in 2008. Agbong thus enjoined the parents to also volunteer by providing the so-called “sweat equity” in the construction of three lavatories courtesy of FDC Misamis.

“The construction materials as provided by FDC Misamis are already available. What you (parents) will do is simply show your volunteerism in the construction of lavatories,” appealed the lady school head.

FDC Misamis president and chief operating officer Mario Pangilinan expressed appreciation for the company’s participation for the second consecutive year in Deped-District of Villanueva’s Brigada Eskwela, with having TBIS as this year’s adopted school.

Brigada Eskwela, explained Pangilinan, is a “shared responsibility” among the education stakeholders and a good start to provide quality education to children.

Village chiefs Regene Ello of Tambobong and Nila Pagaling of Balacanas, however, wished that FDC Misamis may go beyond Brigada Eskwela.

“We are hoping that FDC Misamis will soon build classrooms here in Tambobong-Balacanas Integrated School,” they said.

Sprawling within a 5,600 square-meter land area, TBIS was established as an integrated school (combination of both elementary and high schools) in the Tambobong-Balacanas Relocation Site.

At present, TBIS has 569 enrollees – 384 for Balacanas Elementary School and 185 for Tambobong-Balacanas National High School.

According to Agbong, one of their major problems right now is the lack of classrooms, especially in the implementation of junior and senior high school.

“We lack classrooms, we lack science apparatus, and we even lack kitchen utensils here. So, how could we ensure quality education among our students?” she lamented.

Despite this, she was still hopeful that with the help of the local government of Villanueva and some of the major industries in town, said problems in TBIS will soon be addressed.

FDC Misamis Power Corp., adds Pangilinan, recognizes the importance of education in the development of its host communities.

“Our volunteerism program in Tambobong-Balacanas Integrated School is just one way for us to help our neighbors achieve progress.  This is our modest effort of helping ensure the children of Villanueva have safer classrooms.”