Public teachers shell out funds to help frontliners

CEBU, Philippines —  Public school teachers in Central Visayas raised over P3 million out of their own pockets to help the COVID-19 frontliners in their divisions.

The fundraising initiative was organized by the Regional Federation of Teachers Association (RTFA-7) through the different schools divisions in Central Visayas. The amount raised was turned over to the respective division heads.

The Cebu City Division was able to raise P625,000. Part of the amount--P200,000--was donated to the Philippine Nurses Association-Cebu Chapter. The turnover was made by Cebu City Division Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud and Cebu City Public Schools Teachers Association (CCPSTA) president Remus Marinas yesterday.

Marinas said, based on their discussions with PNA representatives, the donated funds will be divided among the frontliners in three public hospitals in the city---Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City Medical Center and St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital.

The rest of the amount was used to buy relief goods to be distributed to hundreds of students and teachers living in the locked down areas like Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz and Sitio Sto. Nino and Calejon in Labagon due to Covid-19 cases.

Cebu Province was able to pool a total of P1.5 million in donations while Lapu-Lapu City Division collected P427,000. Mandaue City Division has P420,000, Talisay City Division with P235,000 and Toledo City with P175,000.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas said he greatly appreciate the amount donated by the public school teachers. For Talisay’s part, some of it will go to its district hospital while the rest for the other frontliners assigned in different areas to secure the safety of the community.

Two divisions outside Cebu also answered the challenge with Bais raising P85,000 and Dumaguete City with P75,000. Although most division has already turned over the donations, Marinas said, the teachers can continue with their fundraising activity as the need arises.

“Depende ra nila kung mao na to or mupadayon pa sila ug dawat sa katong mga teachers na wapa ka donate para mas daghan pa sila’g mahatagan. In our case diri sa Cebu City, padayon pa gihapon mi kay daghang naapektuhan sa lockdown sa Barrio Luz ug sa Labangon,” said Marinas.

The public school teachers in the region decided to come up with the fundraising activity as their way of giving back to the government for receiving their full salary despite not having to report to work during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period.  FPL (FREEMAN)