Dao Integrated School in Oras, Eastern Samar now has its new multi-purpose building (MPB) that will provide venue for recreation and school activities for the teachers and students.
This MPB with a project cost amounting to P3,464,937.61 is a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office under the local Infrastructure Project (LIP) through the efforts of Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda.
On July 23, 2021, Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda, Roy Ador of DepEd Eastern Samar Division Office, DPWH Assistant District Engineer Domcelio M. Natividad and other officials from the DPWH ESDEO were gathered of Dao Integrated School teachers for a thanksgiving ceremony for the newly constructed covered court.
Jazmin Jongco, principal of Dao Integrated School, said that the multi-purpose building is a big help to their school especially to their students in avoiding cutting classes and enhancing their skills in sports like basketball.
“Sometimes we are the host school for district meet athletic activities, now that we have already MPB, venue for these activities will be no longer a problem to us,” Jongco said.
The school principal also expressed her gratitude to Congresswoman Abunda and to the DPWH for the realization of the project.
In an interview with the Federated PTA President of DIS, Ronald Quilario, he said that the newly constructed covered court is a big relief for the teachers and the students because they won’t be going to the Barangay gymnasium anymore during school programs.
“Kon may mga program po kami, yanhe kami tam stage. Danay mauran, yadto hira ha gym. Nagdadara hit mga gamit, mga puruk-anan, mga lamesa. Dire sugad kon mayda dinhe kalugaringon hit eskuylahan, dire na hira matabok. Safety liwat it kabataan, mga estudyante, hit pagtabok hit kalsada. Tapos kadugangan in hiya nga evacuation center dara nga dako it Brgy. Dao [We use our stage for the programs. But during rainy days, we use the gymnasium. The teachers and students bring the tables and chairs for the program. Now if we have our own covered court, they won’t need to carry the stuff back and forth. It will also be safer for the students because they won’t cross the road anymore. This covered court will also be an additional evacuation center for the growing population of Brgy. Dao],” said FPTA president Ronald Quilario.
The newly completed multi-purpose building is an open covered court with a total floor area of 450 meters and approximately 8 meters in height. The framework includes metal structure and roofing accessories, steel trusses and purlins.
Engr. Arturo Apura, Chief of Planning and Design Section of ESDEO, disclosed that the scope of the project did not include the floor finishing hence it was not reflected in the scope of works due to limited funds.
“We prioritize the main structure of the MPB including the roofing so that they can already utilize this MPB in conducting school activities during rainy or sunny days,” said Engr. Apura.
Moreover, Egr. Apura said that the structure would serve as a venue for both recreational and school activities and that the district office wants to contribute in the realization of each student’s potential.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda promised to the school principal, teachers and students that she will find a way to fund the construction for the flooring to give the school a complete facility and said that she will come back for ribbon cutting once the whole structure is fully completed.
“I am happy with this MPB because I see that it is constructed with quality. The facility is big that it will be utilized for its purpose but it will be more presentable and beautiful if we will complete the floor finish,” Cong. Abunda said.
(IRMA BALLETE,PIO STAFF/PR)

In the wake of heavy equipment burning by NPAs in N.Samar

TACLOBAN CITY- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has directed military officials here in the region  on Tuesday (August 3) to provide security to all projects being undertaken against attacks from the New People’s Army (NPA) members.
Lorenzana made this directive after rebel members torched heavy equipment in Las Navas, Northern Samar last July 29.
The burning of 10 heavy equipment valued at P32 million came after the contractor, which owned the torched equipment, declined to give in to the demand of the rebel group.
“Tulungan natin ang ating mga contractors and their equipment because these are projects of the President.Pag-pinabayaan natin silang sunugin ang kanilang equipment, maabala ang ating mga contactors. Instead na ma-accomplish ang target, hindi nila magawa at yung ang gusto nila (NPAs),” the Defense Secretary said.
He said that most of these projects being targeted by the rebel group is part of the Build, Build, Build project of the Duterte administration.
Lorenzana, together with Public Works and Highways Sec. Mark Villar, attended the inauguration of two buildings of the 546th Engineer Construction Battalion located at Kuta Kankabato, San Jose District, this city which will serve as office and barracks of the said engineering battalion.
The construction of the P48 million worth structures were part of the partnership of the Department of National Defense and the Department of Public Works and Highways under the ‘Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad(TIKAS) project.’
Sec. Villar, for his part, expressed his gratitude to Sec. Lorenzana for his directive to the soldiers saying attacks staged by the NPAs contributes to the delay of projects of the national government.
“I am thankful that Sec. Lorenzana has made a commitment to provide protection of our projects. Naniniwala ako na long-term solution sa ating insurgency problem (ang mga infrastructure projects),” he said.
“Pag may kalsada na ang isang lugar, siyempre, magkaroon ng development at trabaho ng mga locals,” Villar added.
Villar admitted that peace and order sometimes poses a problem for immediate completion of government-funded projects.
“Because of the problem in the peace order, we sought help from the armed forces to hasten the completion of the projects, we have to coordinate for the completion of these projects. We should work hand in hand to continue the Build Build Build program of the administration,” he said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO) has completed a 640-meter Farm to Market Road (FMR) in Brgy. Dalid leading to Brgy. Bagacay in Oras, Eastern Samar.
A ribbon cutting of the FMR projects was held on July 23, 2021 which were attended by Congresswoman Mari Fe R. Abunda, officials from DPWH ESDEO and barangay officials of the benefited barangays.
According to DPWH ESDEO Assistant District Engineer Domcelio Natividad, the FMR project has a length of 640 meters, width of 5 meters and has drainage and slope protection.
“This farm-to-market road project is a partnership between Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Agriculture with total project cost of P 9,778,641.42 under DA FY 2020,” said Engr. Natividad.
The assistant head of DPWH ESDEO also disclosed that the FMR was constructed in accordance with the standards and specification of DPWH and that the contractor is still responsible for the repair works within the one-year liability period.
Meanwhile, the barangay captain of Bagacay informed Congw. Abunda that there is still more than one kilometer of roads from the end of the new FMR to barangay Bagacay that still needs to be concreted. He disclosed that they only carry their products on-foot because of trail way road.
Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda said during the ribbon cutting event that the FMR project is really a big help to the local farmers and residents of Dalid and Bagacay.
The representative of the lone district of Eastern Samar also promised that she will help local residents of Bagacay to complete the concreting of the remaining unpaved road in the upcoming funding year.
Maria Jaide Grafil, a resident of Brgy. Bagacay, Oras Eastern Samar, said during an interview that the newly concreted road is a big help to them especially during health emergencies.
“Dara hini nga kalsada, dire na halaba iton malagay nga amon pag aagian,” [Because of this concreted road, we don’t need to walk on lengthy muddy road anymore], Maria Jaide Grafil said.
She also said during the interview that she is really thankful to the government agency for the FMR project because they can now use motorcycles, tricycles and truck during their health emergencies and also in transporting their farm products.
The road project started its construction on March 13, 2021 and was completed June 15 of the same year.(IRMA BALLETE,PIO STAFF/PR)