Eight public schools in the province received secondhand items during the "Disposal Thru Donation 2023" activity of Tarlac State University held at the TSU Hotel on Wednesday morning (April 19).
Among the beneficiaries are Victoria East Central School, Matindeg Elementary School, San Antonio Elementary School, Dona Felisa Y. Sawit Elementary School, Kawayan Elementary School, Tarlac National High School-Alternative Learning System, San Pablo Elementary School, and Maligaya Elementary School.
These public schools received doors, office tables, long tables, upholstered chairs, metal filing cabinets, modular cabinets, fluorescent cages (single and double), sala set, piles of tiles, jalousies, highchair, steel beds, ladders, and others.
Meanwhile, bonus items like a 42-inch television, video camera, bass drum, mini component (karaoke player), white tiles, and 60 monoblock and stool chairs were raffled to the eight schools.
TSU's resident auditor Ms. Judy Cayabyab suggested that the university's Disposal Committee donate condemned items to public schools instead of auctioning them. Auditor Cayabyab formerly served as the DepEd Tarlac Province and Tarlac City divisions resident auditor.
“Sana ang buong DepEd magkaroon ng pagkakataon na maging part ng donation program ninyo. Sana sa mga susunod pa you will remark also of a better program para mag-collaborate po ang TSU and all the other government agencies. Nagdidispose nga rin po one time ang ang SSS, sabi ko 'why don’t you give it to the DepEd?' kaya lang medyo mahigpit po ang proseso. Kasi ang gaganda pa po ng mga tables, actually, office table na dinidispose nila at filing cabinet na dinidispose nila,” Auditor Cayayab said in her speech.
Auditor Cayabyab shared she felt bad during a visit to a remote school in Santa Ignacia town when she saw termite-infested cabinets and tables that are still being used by the teachers. She reiterated that there are Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) that must be utilized.
“Kasi kapag dinispose mo, may cost yon eh. The value ay mababa na pero kapag dinonate mo ito sa mga nangangailangan pa, sa palagay ko, it will go a long way. Kasi magiging katulong po ng mga principal,” the auditor further said.
According to Mr. William Navarro, Master Teacher from Maligaya Elementary School, they only requested some jalousies to replace their dilapidated wooden windows, but they did not expect to receive old doors, filing cabinets, tables, metal chairs, swivel chairs, other metal rods, LED fluorescent lamps, and the like.
Maligaya Elementary School was picked thrice during the raffle of some items. They received bonus items like the 42-inch television, seven stool chairs, 20 monoblocks, and the mini component.
Navarro said the long table they received only needs to be repaired and repainted, which will be placed in their Science room along with the 20 monoblocks.
Meanwhile, the TV and mini component will be used to train students who will represent their school in some competitions.
According to Ms. Analyn Ibañez, head of the Supply and Property Management Unit, they followed Auditor Cayabyab's suggestion, expressing how touching it is to see the teachers' delight during the donation knowing that most public schools lack tables, chairs, and other materials used to enhance their facilities.
“Mas okay ito at mapapakinabangan kesa sa iaauction tapos babaratin lang tayo tulad ng isang filing cabinet binibili lang nila for 50 pesos. We started it last year, marami pa silang pwedeng makuha sa susunod basta i-express sa letter kay president. So sana marami pa tayong matulungan,” Ms. Ibañez said in an interview.
Dr. Evelyn Gamit, OIC of TNHS ALS Senior High School, said the items they won during the raffle would be useful to their 540 ALS learners in different towns, wherein 169 will be graduating in July this year.
“We thank you for all this blessing. We thank you, Tarlac State University, the different directors and persons involved, especially Maam Judy, [who gave] the idea to TSU. This is our first time, and we are so lucky to win the videocam na magagamit sa ALS,” Dr. Gamit said in an interview.
Gamit said the items they received from the university are already a big help since they just started in October 2021. TNHS is the only public school in the province that caters to ALS Senior High School learners from as far as Dueg in San Clemente and Calangitan in Capas Tarlac. (jlmm-OPA)
