More school buildings up under Kaalam program

THE Oplan Kaalam program of Davao City First District Rep. Karlo B. Nograles gets bigger with the allocation of at least P9 million to build three more school buildings, coming on top of more teacher items and additional beneficiaries for the Nograles Supplemental School Feeding Program.

Nograles said the allocation of P3 million for each school building at the Talomo National High School, RC Quimpo Elementary School and Matina Central Elementary School are the realization of his promise to their respective beneficiaries.

"We are merely making good on our promise to the schools' principals, we really made sure to deliver before this term ends," Nograles said. "This is part of our commitment to education, to make sure that our schools are a safe and comfortable learning environment for our children."

The funding for new school buildings is part of the congressman's Expanded Oplan Kaalam Program.

Established in 2001 as a priority project of the then chief-of-staff Karlo Nograles, Oplan Kaalam has grown into a full scholarship, educational assistance and education advocacy program. It currently supports full tuition and fees of some 4,600 students, enrolled at the state-owned University of Southeastern Philippines and 373 students at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao.

The program also provides tuition fee assistance to 2,200 students enrolled in various private colleges and universities of Davao City.
Nograles also reported that part of this education agenda is the identification of recipients of teacher items under the Department of Education (DepEd).

"Advocating for education should be more than just providing scholarships and school buildings, of course we need to make sure that we have well trained teachers, especially for our public elementary and secondary levels," Nograles said. "We cannot neglect our teachers, because if we lose them to better paying jobs overseas then it is our students who suffer."

Since 2010, Nograles' office has identified a total of 261 beneficiary recipients of DepEd teacher items; 103 items for Kinder and Elementary and 158 items for Secondary level.

Meanwhile, Nograles also announced the addition of four more elementary schools in the the Oplan Kaalam Supplemental Feeding Program. These are Zonta Elementary School (Isla Verde, Brgy. 23-C), Bolton Elementary School (Bolton St., Brgy. 2-A), Doña Pilar Marfori Elementary School (Madapo Hills, Brgy. 5-A) and Jose Rizal Elementary School (Sales St., Brgy. 28-C).
One hundred students from each school will receive a daily meal under the program.