By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) --- While some children savor the comfort of a school bus and a hefty amount of “baon” to get them through the day in school, other young souls in her congressional district have to transcend dangerous bridges and navigate slippery roads just to listen to their teacher’s lectures and pick up some nuggets of knowledge that they can bring back home.
Speaking before some Cabinet members, local government officials and stakeholders at the launching of the national school-based immunization program here, Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Leni Gerona-Robredo underscored this sacrifice of schoolchildren in parts of Camarines Sur.
She said she witnessed their sad plight during her visits in their localities.
“In our district, we had stories of schoolchildren who had to brave dangers just to go to school and have a shot at a better life. During my regular and frequent visit to the barangays, I had EXPERIENCE the dangerous passages and I could only imagine the worries and anxieties of their parents.”
Robredo cited Sitio Ilihan in Barangay Tomagodtod in the coastal town of Calabanga where schoolchildren have to pass through a wobbly and shaky bridge. The bridge is perilously situated over Tigman River before they can get to the nearest school.
The bridge becomes more treacherous during the rainy season and harsh weather conditions, she said.
Robredo said pupils who are living near the riverside villages of Borobaybay in Magarao, Palo, San Nicolas, Iquin and Mangayawan in Canaman have to cross the vast Bicol River, lodging themselves on boats without outriggers.
These snags had been addressed with the replacement of the old hanging bridge in Sitio Ilihan. A spill way was also constructed there. So that the schoolchildren need not cross the Bicol River, Robredo, through her congressional allocation, built the Palo Integrated School for pupils residing in the riverside.
But the children’s troubles do not end there. Robredo lamented that the dangers of their trek to their school overshadow the rising incidence of malnutrition among children in various municipalities in the third congressional district.
“Naga City has a low percentage of underweight preschool children at just about 5 percent. But incidence in some towns climbs to almost 20 percent. I know that the Department of Health, the Department of Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government and other mandated agencies are working to change these numbers and ensure that immunization reaches especially children from poor families,” Robredo added.
In recognition of these efforts, Robredo lauded the implementation of the school-based immunization programs.
Ensuring the health needs of children will make them productive citizens of the country and proficient partners in nation-building, she said.
“As a mother of three, I believe that investing in protecting our sons and daughters, our future leaders and builders, from diseases means investing in the future,” she added. (EAD/LSM/PIA5/Camarines Sur)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861438843111/leni-robredo-recalls-self-sacrifices-of-schoolchildren-in-camarines-sur#sthash.wXyAdKsX.dpuf
NAGA CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) --- While some children savor the comfort of a school bus and a hefty amount of “baon” to get them through the day in school, other young souls in her congressional district have to transcend dangerous bridges and navigate slippery roads just to listen to their teacher’s lectures and pick up some nuggets of knowledge that they can bring back home.
Speaking before some Cabinet members, local government officials and stakeholders at the launching of the national school-based immunization program here, Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Leni Gerona-Robredo underscored this sacrifice of schoolchildren in parts of Camarines Sur.
She said she witnessed their sad plight during her visits in their localities.
“In our district, we had stories of schoolchildren who had to brave dangers just to go to school and have a shot at a better life. During my regular and frequent visit to the barangays, I had EXPERIENCE the dangerous passages and I could only imagine the worries and anxieties of their parents.”
Robredo cited Sitio Ilihan in Barangay Tomagodtod in the coastal town of Calabanga where schoolchildren have to pass through a wobbly and shaky bridge. The bridge is perilously situated over Tigman River before they can get to the nearest school.
The bridge becomes more treacherous during the rainy season and harsh weather conditions, she said.
Robredo said pupils who are living near the riverside villages of Borobaybay in Magarao, Palo, San Nicolas, Iquin and Mangayawan in Canaman have to cross the vast Bicol River, lodging themselves on boats without outriggers.
These snags had been addressed with the replacement of the old hanging bridge in Sitio Ilihan. A spill way was also constructed there. So that the schoolchildren need not cross the Bicol River, Robredo, through her congressional allocation, built the Palo Integrated School for pupils residing in the riverside.
But the children’s troubles do not end there. Robredo lamented that the dangers of their trek to their school overshadow the rising incidence of malnutrition among children in various municipalities in the third congressional district.
“Naga City has a low percentage of underweight preschool children at just about 5 percent. But incidence in some towns climbs to almost 20 percent. I know that the Department of Health, the Department of Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government and other mandated agencies are working to change these numbers and ensure that immunization reaches especially children from poor families,” Robredo added.
In recognition of these efforts, Robredo lauded the implementation of the school-based immunization programs.
Ensuring the health needs of children will make them productive citizens of the country and proficient partners in nation-building, she said.
“As a mother of three, I believe that investing in protecting our sons and daughters, our future leaders and builders, from diseases means investing in the future,” she added. (EAD/LSM/PIA5/Camarines Sur)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861438843111/leni-robredo-recalls-self-sacrifices-of-schoolchildren-in-camarines-sur#sthash.wXyAdKsX.dpuf
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