MORE than a hundred lumad children housed at UCCP Haran sanctuary in Davao City are going to have their temporary classes again at the compound as their families still opt to stay amid continued threats in their communities.
As their classes started Monday, Save Our Schools Network Southern Mindanao Spokesperson Rius Valle said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao that there are also around 900 lumad children who have taken shelter at the Tandag City sports complex who are going to have their temporary classes at the evacuation site.
The Brigada Eskwela and enrolment at the Haran sanctuary started last week and there are still remaining staff and facilities that are needed to be fixed.
Valle said that there are a lot of people who extended helped during the Brigada eskwela comprised of media groups, different individuals, churches, and youth organizations. Help comes in the form of school and construction supplies among others.
Valle said that reports from lumad communities in Talaingod and Sultan Kudarat said they have been allegedly receiving threats from the paramilitary group Alamara that is why the classes there, which were supposed to start on Monday, June 6, were not pushed.
New "bakwits" numbering 200 were also added to the lumad evacuation center in Gigaquit, Surigao del Sur.
They are hoping that the incoming administration will have some solution to the displacement of lumads and that those accountable for the militarization and threats be held accountable.
They also want the next administration to examine the Department of Education Memorandum 221 issued in 2013 that allows military presence in schools. (RCP)