Vice President Sara Duterte, who serves as the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary in a concurrent capacity, has chosen to visit Last Mile schools in Cebu on the opening of classes for public schools this School Year (SY) 2023-2024.

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Photo courtesy of Official Facebook Page of Inday Sara 

Duterte, in her message, said she chose to attend the opening of classes in Last Mile schools to show its importance and “to make sure education is accessible to far-flung barangays and to our children and learners.”

Her first stop was the Kaluangan 1 Primary School in Asturias town which has 63 pupils and four teaching and non-teaching personnel.

Duterte also visited the Melecio Tito Elementary School in Oguis, Danao City.

In both schools, Duterte led the turnover of a newly constructed four-classroom buildings.

A total of 15 other Last Mile school buildings were also turned over in time for the opening of classes for this SY according to Undersecretary Epimaco Densing, who is in charge of the School Infrastructure and Facilities Strand of DepEd.

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Photo courtesy of Official Facebook Page of Inday Sara 

The newly turned-over school building has four classrooms. During Duterte’s visit, the classrooms, which were provided with desks and armchairs, were already being used for the first day of classes.

Duterte also turned over Philippine flags to the school heads of the two schools.

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Photo courtesy of Official Facebook Page of Inday Sara 

Last Mile schools are usually makeshift and non-standard ones. These have no electricity, no funds for repairs, and are usually located in Geographically Isolated, and Disadvantaged and Conflict Affected Areas (GIDCA).

The Last Mile Schools Program was introduced under former Secretary Leonor Briones to address the gaps in resources and facilities of schools that are in GIDCA.

Meanwhile, Duterte also brought the PagbaBAGo program of the Office of the Vice President and distributed school bags to the children containing school supplies and dental kits. 

RELATED STORY: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/28/back-to-school-2023-blank-walls-and-persistent-issues

Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/29/on-the-first-day-of-classes-duterte-visits-last-mile-schools-in-cebu)