CFSC unique, says DepEd Asec. Ruiz

TAGUM CITY May 22 - The Care for School Chairs Program (CFSC) initiated through the leadership of City Mayor Rey T. Uy gained another admirer anew in the person of Assistant Secretary for Programs and Projects Elena R. Ruiz of the Department of Education.

“I have not seen one like this in the entire Philippines and Mayor Uy is really making history,” stressed Ruiz in an interview at Tagum City Motorpool last May 17 where she was given a personal briefing by no less than the local chief executive.

The visiting DepEd executive stressed that she was impressed by how the Local Government of Tagum made use of confiscated logs and fabricate it into school chairs, benefiting her department’s largest clientele, the students.

During their meeting, Mayor Uy relayed to Asec. Ruiz the dismal state of school chairs used in schools, especially those in far-flung areas, and connected it to the declining state of the country’s educational system.

“I look forward to the day when the city will be the one to make chairs for the entire department,” she said, pitching suggestion that the local government of Tagum could bid to fabricate school chairs that will be bought by DepEd.

She raised this possibility after knowing that the school furniture produced by Tagum through the Care for School Chairs Program is pegged at a lower price but of great quality.

“I cannot make commitment for the secretary but in behalf of the teachers, we should make sure that these chairs made by Tagum are taken care of,” assured Asec. Ruiz.Asec. Ruiz is in town for the National Skills Enhancement Training for Technical-Vocational Education teachers held at Tagum National Trade School.

Accompanying Asec. Ruiz are DepEd Region XI Assistant Regional Director Fe C. delos Reyes and Dr. Concesa G. Lanoy of DepEd-Division of Tagum City.

As of this writing, 41, 426 pieces of school furniture have already been distributed since August 2011 by LGU Tagum through CFSC Program to schools in Davao Region, including Payatas Elementary School in Quezon City, Metro Manila. (Louie Lapat/Edwin of CIO Tagum)