At least 20 school buildings in province damaged, burglarized

CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 of 200 school buildings built since the start of the term of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia have either been damaged or burglarized, said Cebu Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre.

“Daghan ang nangawala, gipangkawat ilabi na ang mga doorknob ug mga jalousie,” Pelayre said in his report during the General Assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils. He said it appears the school buildings were not properly maintained.

These school buildings are reportedly located at the Tulay Minglanilla National High School, Naga National High School, Lipata National High School in Minglanilla, Carcar National High School, Don Juan Enad National High School, Canbanua National High School in Argao, Caleriohan National High School in Dalaguete, Badian National High School, Ronda National High School, Cogon National High School in Dumanjug, Aloguinsan National High School, and Sta. Lucia National High School in Asturias.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, upon hearing the report, decided to meet with school administrators so that schools across the province can be properly assessed.

Garcia also directed mayors and barangays captains to go around the schools within their jurisdictions to assess the present state of their buildings.

Meanwhile, Garcia has called on school teachers in all levels instill “a sense of pride of their own identity and make them uphold the culture and heritage of the province.”

Garcia contended that the emergence of pop culture has “unknowingly consumed our minds” and is slowly making the youth forget their own identity.

“Without resistance, this could alienate us from our own culture and eventually make us confused of our own identity. This scenario should be avoided most primarily at the lowest level of an individual’s development,” Garcia said during the symposium among Day Care workers at the Cebu International Convention Center recently.

The governor stressed that the role of Day Car workers are as important as that of the parents in instilling values among children.

Garcia likened the minds of the children to an empty canvass that absorbs whatever is printed on it.

She said kids should be given “proper guidance, meaningful teachings, and beautiful impressions because what they hear or see are bound to last.” — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)