THE Banayon Elementary School in Dagami, Leyte continues to receive support from Thailand’s Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the Royal Thai Embassy five years after the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
On Tuesday, September 4, representatives from the office of the Royal Highness returned to the school for the third time to monitor on the development of their projects.
Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo thanked the Royal Highness for her assistance, saying it helped a lot in the fast recovery of the school after it was destroyed during Yolanda on November 8, 2013.
“The project is a big help for the school to augment its school-based program and other projects,” Firmo said.
Aside from the donation of a new school building which was personally inaugurated by the crowned Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on January 20, 2016, the Thai princess also gave P200,000 as seed money for the school’s health and nutrition program, mushroom production, piggery, tilapia raising, and vegetable or “gulayan” program.
“The help is very much appreciated. Having partners like them who provided resources to the school is really a blessing,” said Eden Dadap, project development officer IV of the Department of Education Eastern Visayas Regional Office.
Ma. Ivy Avelino, the head teacher of Banayon Elementary School, assured the Thai princess that they are maintaining the productivity of the projects with the help of the parents, community, and the local government unit.
Thai agribusiness company Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) also gives technical support in the development of their fishpond.
Avelino said the vegetable garden and 600 tilapia fingerlings at the school’s fishpond have helped in sustaining the health and nutrition program for their 142 enrolled students.
The school’s regular feeding program managed by its nine teachers has reduced the malnutrition problem in school, added Avelino.
Albert Enriquez, Cebu area manager of CP Foods, said the school has harvested 43 kilos to 200 kilos of tilapia from their fishpond, providing “self-sufficiency” to the school's feeding program.
Meanwhile, the Thai royal officials urged the school to sustain their projects for the future of the students and the community.