Two playhouse facilities have been turned over to daycare centers in Barangay Iwahig, Bataraza from the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) as part of its access to education and educational support programs for students.
Iskandar Sali, community organizer of the RTNMC, said two daycare centers have received the facilities under their Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) on September 17.
“Meron tayong intervention dito, provision ng daycare learning materials, book at kung ano-anong equipment nila. Since walang fund yong barangay at na-push through nila sa planning ng SDMP, nag-allot sila ng budget,” he said.
The Acasia Daycare Center and Sunrise Daycare Center have received one playhouse facilities each that could benefit 28 pupils per school. The project allocated from SDMP has a budget of P93, 414 for each facility.
Along with the playhouses were learning materials, such as books were also provided.
“Yong learning nila, mas ma-enjoy nila yong pag-aaral, hindi lang sila basta nag-aaral. Mga bata ito, these are young siguro four to six years old na hindi lang puro pag-aaral pa yong inaatupag nila kung hindi ay yong pag-i-enjoy nila sa mga classmate,” he said.
Sali said that projects for the education sector could help the community through the presence of SDMP to increase the number of enrollees in every community of the town.
He said he has seen progress as the number of out-of-school youth (OSY) has decreased compared to previous years. He added if there is a presence of scholarship and facilities such as school buildings, the rate of enrollment would elevate.
Sali mentioned that it is the first time that the RTNMC had distributed playhouses for the daycare schools in Bataraza.
“Si Bataraza ay meron pa rin na mga kakulangan pagdating sa educational facility so si SDMP ay pumapasok especially sa education sector, pumapasok yong mga proyekto para matulungan din ang community sa pagdag ng facility at para ma-increase pa yong number of enrollee,” he said.
