KALINGA NG GOBERNADOR AT LIGA NG MGA BISE MAYOR NG DAVAO DEL NORTE

by: Jalmaida L. Jamiri, MPA

For the past two years, the partnership of the Office of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Davao del Norte Chapter remains steadfast as more and more programs and activities are initiated and increasing numbers of constituents from the eleven Local Government Unit in the entire province of Davao del Norte are benefited on these numerous endeavors collaborated and spearheaded by the two offices under the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. Brigada Eskwela 2009 did not just come and go without some form of support being proffered to the schools coming from the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. For the City of Tagum, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon ensures that these supports are actually received by the intended beneficiaries.

GALLONS OF PAINTS FOR SCHOOLS

During the FPTCA Meeting on May 12, 2009, not only did the 38 public schools in the City receive school supplies for their indigent pupils, but they also brought with them at least a gallon of top brand white latex and/or enamel paint. Budget of which was sourced out from the Office of Governor del Rosario under the Aid to VMLP Program. 52 gallons of paints were turned over by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario himself assisted by Vice Mayor Allan Rellon and the public officials present, for the beautification and maintenance of schools during the weeklong Brigada Eskwela. On his message, Governor del Rosario expressed his pleasure that VMLP was able to initiate this endeavor for the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program and told the rest of those present that he is glad to be a partner of the schools in this common endeavor, the Brigada Eskwela 2009 for that matter. He further assured the school administrators that this will not be the last time that a support will be given from his office and VMLP. The governor stayed until the end of the meeting and principals and administrators were indeed given the chance to talk to him personally and discuss several issues concerning them.

CLASS RECORDS AND LESSON PLAN FOR TEACHERS

If the indigent pupils have their school supplies and the schools have paints for their beautification and maintenance, our beloved teachers are not forgotten for they too have something from the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. Class Records and Lesson Plans were distributed to all public elementary and secondary school teachers in the entire province of Davao del Norte. For the City of Tagum, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon himself went to the 38 public schools and turned over bulks of lesson plans and class records intended for the teaching force of each school. Even teachers of Public Preschools and Day Care Centers also received the same items. There is a total of 1, 178 public school teachers and 82 Day Care Center Teachers who all received a piece of Class Record and Lesson Plan. The items may not cause much but words of thanks and appreciations coming from the teachers were enough to conclude that it’s not the cost that counts but rather the fact that they were remembered.

VOLUNTARY MANUAL LABOR

Aside from the school supplies, paints, class records and lesson plans that were distributed, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon also spearheaded in organizing groups of volunteers coming from the Army Reservists of 1102 Community Defense Center and BSP Rover Scouts of Tagum City who actually perform manual labor during the duration of Brigada Eskwela on May 18-23, 2009 in several schools in the City.

Army Reservists Vice Mayor Allan Rellon, being the Battalion Commander of 1102 Community Defense Center, 1^st (DAV) Ready Reserve Battalion, 11^th Regional Community Defense Group of Army Reserve Command of Philippine Army, organized and led the 40 uniformed army reservists who, in the spirit of volunteerism, got actively involved in the weeklong Brigada Eskwela by helping in various maintenance works in several schools such as repainting of classroom walls, roofs, benches, and hall stage; repair of broken furniture and armchairs; cutting stubborn grasses; construction of pavements, among others.

Even the Group Commander of 11^th RCDG, COL FLORANTE O ISLES INF (GSC) PA shared in the same intention and joined the group throughout the entire duration of voluntary work and claimed and performed his share of workloads side by side with CAPT ALLAN RELLON. Together with City Councilor and ABC President Alfredo R. Pagdilao, COL ISLES assisted Vice Mayor Allan Rellon in the distribution of school supplies to indigent pupils in Rizal I Elementary School. The sight of army reservists working together with civilians for a common goal is something new that our schools can now look forward to for the Brigada Eskwela in the coming years. It will also be a good avenue to change the negative impressions of civilians towards military men who are usually associated with war and danger. The volunteer army reservists of 1102 CDC were not able to go through the entire week of Brigada Eskwela since their assistance were requested to help in the control of the crowd and retrieval of victims of the landslide in Pantukan, Compostela Valley on May 19, 2009.

BSP ROVER SCOUTS

Being the 1^st Council Vice Chairman of the BSP Tagum City Associate Council, Vice Mayor Rellon initiated the organization of Rover Scouts to make an active participation in the Brigada Eskwela 2009. He called for a coordinative meeting to all Rover Scouts on May 5, 2009 at SP Session Hall to orient them on their participation in the upcoming event. Team leaders were delegated and school assignments were identified as well as the tasks that would be performed on these schools. Vice Mayor reiterated once again, that being scouts are not just about wearing their uniforms and participating in jamborees or camps but rather it is about going out to the community and living out the spirit of volunteerism….making an active participation on a common endeavor for the good of the general public.

There were a total of 65 Rover Scouts who were scattered in nine schools in the city and helped out in various school maintenance works such as painting of fences, trimming of grasses, cleaning the classrooms, among others. Some of the scouts did not only volunteer in one school but in several schools as well…so much for the spirit of volunteerism. Brigada Eskwela is not just about preparing the schools for the opening of classes in June but it also unites the community to share and give out something for a common purpose… for the betterment of our students. It provides an avenue for the community to carry out and live out their social responsibility and as such become an active partner in the development of the community. With the Brigada Eskwela, it once again upheld the spirit of Bayanihan… which we Filipinoes are known for…setting a good example before the eyes of the new generation.