DAVAO ORIENTAL – All roads led to the municipality of Tarragona on October 10, 2019 as close to six thousand teachers and school workers flocked in the municipal plaza for the culminating activity of the World Teachers Month celebration, enabling these unsung heroes to take respite from the strenuous and demanding work of teaching.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang expressed his profound gratitude to the teachers for heeding to the call of public service and for nurturing the young minds of the children.
He said that while they are evidently living a life also for others, they also metamorphosed with time, and as what the theme for this year said, they are now ready for the modern change, a wondrous change to and for all.
Wearing all smiles, the teachers looked vibrant during the one-day activity filled with sheer fun, laughter, relentless gratitude, and promise of providing a better environment and future for the children.
Elated, Tarragona Mayor Nestor Uy, who hosted the grand celebration, expressed his happiness over the enthusiasm demonstrated by the teachers.
“When Governor Nelson Dayanghirang told me that as the host local government unit, one million pesos is needed, I was in quandary if can we make it. But I was also relieved to learn that the rest of the needed budget will be shared by the LGUs, the offices of the two district representatives of the province, Cong. Joel Mayo Almario and Congresswoman Cora Malanyaon, and of course, the province. So, I accepted the hosting expeditiously because this proves again the unity of our political leaders,” he explained.
The celebration was also a fitting way to welcome again the four municipalities of Lupon, Banaybanay, San Isidro, and Gov. Generoso to the jurisdiction of the Davao Oriental Schools Division.
Governor Dayanghirang made sure that the culmination will really push through for the said reason.
“When Schools Division Supt. Dr. Lorenzo Mendoza asked me if we can have the activity at the municipal level, I was uncertain of nodding to the idea, because I want this as a special welcome to the teachers. So, I called for an urgent meeting to finalize this event in his absence. This is also our way to thank you, dear teachers, for being an enormous part in giving good future to our children, in preparing and molding them for the future. We thank you for the betterment and development of Davao Oriental,” he said.
The Local Chief Executives of the province, Mayors Rowell Rosit, Arturo Mondy represented by Vice-Mayor Ramona Olea, Alicia Mori, Erlinda Lim, Adalia Lopez, Justina Yu, and Katrina Joy Orencia, vowed to support the programs of the Department of Education for the teachers, particularly support also to their respective Local School Boards.
Vice-Mayor Ramona Olea divulged that the local government unit of Baganga is now allocating funds for the feasibility study of putting another campus of the State College in the province in their municipality.
Davao City Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta, representing Senator Cristopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and, happily disclosed a very good news to the teachers. Conveying the message of Senator Go, Councilor Acosta revealed that President Duterte already signed the 35 percent salary hike for the teachers and all government employees.
Board Member Marietta Palmera of the first district of the province, representing Congresswoman Corazon Malanyaon who is vice chair of the Committee on Appropriations, disclosed that the increase will be implemented in January of 2020.
The announcement brought a resounding applause from the teachers who wore green shirts and were not affected with the ravenous heat of the sun despite the tents intended to protect them.
The afternoon was spent for games and raffle draw for the array of prizes for the teachers.
Grand prizes included two motorcycles from the office of Congresswoman Malanyaon. The host municipality gave away home appliances such as refrigerators, water dispensers, washing machines, megaboxes, noche buena packs, and others, to the utmost delight of the teachers.
Present during the occasion were Bishop Abel Apigo, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Lorenzo Mendoza, Board Members Anacleto Macatabog, Ian Larcia, and Dennis Roflo from the second district of the province, and Second District Congressman Joel Mayo Almario. By: Neela G. Duallo/Photos by Riza Golez
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