Students affected by Pablo get grants

COMPOSTELA VALLEY—Six months after the deadly flashfloods brought by typhoon Pablo in this province, students are redeeming themselves by having a normal life in school.

To aid in their recovery, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has extended grants in the form of educational materials to students and teachers of Cabinuangan Centeral Elementary School in New Bataan, Comval.

Plastic armed chairs, blackboards, teachers’ tables, school supplies, back packs, among others worth P 1.2 million were handed over to the school by USAID  Mission Director Gloria Steele and Gov. Arturo Uy last June 14.

The school has a population of 1500 students and also one of the 30 elementary and high schools to receive the grants from USAID.

Aside from the handing over of grants to students, another project was inaugurated during that day, a trading center or bagsakan in Brgy. Poblacion, Compostela to benefit farmers and traders.

Vendors expressed their gratitude during the short program held saying they have been dreaming to have a trading center so they don’t have to source their commodities from Davao or Tagum that incur additional costs.

Steele also headed the ceremonial turn-over of corn seedlings for farmers in Brgy. Marapat in Compostela town where farmers allowed her to try to plant the seedlings on the farm grounds.

“The US Government continues to work with the Philippine Government to help these provinces recover from the impact of the disaster and enable them to rebuild their lives. We will partner with local governments, schools and communities to develop disaster preparedness contingency plans,w hich will help them better prepare for disasters,” Steele said in a statement. (@dcherald)