by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Feb 21 (PIA) – US Charges d’ Affaires Leslie Bassett led the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of two two-classroom buildings in Basilan recently.
The Department of Education in Isabela said the project was funded by Petron Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills 2 (EquALLS2) program.
One school building is situated at the Malamawi Central Elementary School in Malamawi Island, Isabela City where the formal turn-over ceremony took place last February 3. Likewise, a symbolic turn-over was held for the two-classroom building located at Port Holland Elementary School in Maluso town, some 30 kilometers west of Isabela city.
Bassett presented the symbolic key on behalf of USAID and Petron Foundation to the Port Holland Elementary School principal, Amelia Jalani. She was joined by local officials in the ceremony.
Basilan Governor Jum Akbar said that the efforts of USAID, Petron Foundation, as well as the military forces are important because such are done so that “people can make a dent in their lives, in their lifelong learning.”
She also acknowledged the efforts of the engineering team from the Philippine Navy and the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines.
Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the school buildings, saying that they provide “our students the opportunity to have an environment more conducive to teaching and learning.”
In a talk with school representatives, Bassett acknowledged and reminded grateful education and school officials present that while “the classroom is important, the teachers and students are more important.”
The event was also attended by USAID Office of Education Head Robert Burch, Isabela City Division Schools Superintendent Hilda Babon, Task Force Basilan Commander Col. Ramon Yogyog, US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines commander Col. Francis Beaudette, and Petron Foundation’s Rex Alenton. (PIA9-ZBST)