NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley -- It was a school they helped built. It was a school they also tore down.
After heavy rains on October 13 in Sitio Danawan, Barangay Manurigao in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province, more than 10 men from the Mandaya tribe brought hammers and digging chisels to dismantle the school run by Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc.
Around the corners, women and children just watched their husbands, fathers and brothers smashed down the walls and pull apart the roofing of then, the only learning institution in the area.
This happened after the provincial government unit of Compostela Valley turned over a public school located adjacent the Salugpungan school.
Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy made it clear that the schools, built in far-flung villages through Bayanihan system, will cater the students of Salugpungan since the Department of Education ordered its closure due to non-compliance of their requirements.
In a pulong-pulong, Datu Roger Digaynon elaborated the reasons why they decided to destroy the school they allowed to operate in their area.
Datu Digaynon recalled that when he talked to a soldier of the 67th Infantry Battalion, he said to him that they will demolish the Salugpungan school anytime but "ubos sa kasabutan na magbutang sila ug eskwelahan dinhi." (under the agreement that they will put up a school here.)
The datu explained further to the people in the pulong-pulong, including Governor Uy, New Bataan Mayor Geraldford Balbin and Ruben Reponte of DepEd, that they permitted the Silingang Dapit sa Sidlakang Mindanao (SILDAP) to construct the school because of two reasons.
He said that he verbally requested to a teacher-friend for a school to be constructed in their sitio, however, nothing happened.
"Sulagman na naay nag-offer na magbutang ug eskwelahan dinhi, pag-ingon na libre, di siyempre kinsa may mudili na libre man," he added. (Since there was an offering to put up a school here, when they said it is free, of course who will reject something that is free.)
Secondly, Datu Digaynon continued, the parents also wanted their children to be educated.
According to Datu Digaynon, the school was transferred from SILDAP to Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc (MISFI), and then to Salugpungan.
During the operation of the school, Datu Digaynon said that he never knew that the school was run by organizations supporting the New People's Army.
"Nakabalo lang man ko ana atong gistorya ko sa katong sundalo sa 67th IB," he said. (I knew about it when the soldier of the 67th IB told me.)
Governor Uy acknowledged that the previous government has to accept that it has fallen short of its mandate to the people, especially in the far-flung areas.
"Wa ta mo gibasol kung nganong nakasulod na sila dinhi, kabalo namo kinsa. Mao nang atong i-akseptar sa goberno na atong unang panahon, nagkulang jud. Naka-una sila (SILDAP). Pero karon sa panahon namo ni Mayor Gerald, di nako musugot. Better school jud atong ibutang dinhi kay naa na gud mi local government." (I do not blame you on why they set foot here, you know who they are. We just have to accept in the government that in the past, we really fallshort. They (SILDAP) came in first. But now, during our time with Mayor Gerald, we will not allow it. We will put up better school because we in the local government are now here.)
Datu Digaynon told the governor that during the turn-over ceremony, he felt emotional and was about to cry because he felt that the government really loved them.
"Kahilakon jud ko tungod kay nagmahal ang goberno sa amoa. Dili lang eskwelahan ang gihatag, naa pay kitchen, cottage, tubig, solar, sounds, ug pati ang mga pala na among gipangayo." (I was about to cry because we are loved by the government. It is not just the school that was given; there were also the kitchen, cottage, water, solar power, sounds and even the shovels that we requested.)
Governor Uy then answered that there are still other projects and programs from the government that the community will soon benefit.
"Daghan pa mo-abot na proyekto, dalan sa atong unahon," Uy said. (Many projects are still to come, we will start with the roads.)
The governor said that the government together with the community will helped in the opening of better roads for the village.
As of now, one must travel for around four hours from Poblacion in New Bataan to Sitio Biangonan via a motorcyle ride; and then another more than four hours hike to reach Sitio Danawan. (PIA XI, Michael Uy)
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