DAVAO CITY (June 22)—Schoolchildren of Butay Integrated School, in Barangay Pichon, Caraga Davao Oriental, do not mind riding an improvized “Rattan” cable to cross the river just to attend school.
The village of Butay is the education hub for about 300 Mandaya learners who defy fear just to attend their daily classes.
Schoolchildren need to ride the rattan cable daily after the floodwaters swept the bailey bridge constructed by the provincial government.
Many of the schoolchildren are from the village of Sangab, also in Caraga.
One has to walk for six hours to reach the village of Butay, which is harder to reach during reainy season. One has to experience being thrown away from a motorbike and run the risk of getting drenched in mudwaters.
On Thursday, Pablo Banabal, principal of the school, uploaded on his Facebook account the video of his students riding the rattan cable.
Newsline.ph sent the video to the Office of the President for comment and to ask what kind of intervention can they provide to the challenge. In six minutes, the newsroom got the answer.
The video caught the attention of Special Assitant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who immediately called the Department of Public Works and Highways and other line agencies to evaluate the situation. Go promptly asked DPWH Secretary Mark villar to find ways to help the students.
Go said: “Naawa ako sa mga estudyante, binaliwala ang takot na sumakay sa rattan cable” para lang makapasok. The President vowed to support all students especially those in the remote areas, kaya magpadala kami ng team bukas to check the condition of the river and ultimately build a bridge for the students and the people in the area.”
Banabal said the community worked to provide a temporary bridge through “Bayanihan”.
“We decided to have our own version of a bridge using our ethnic way. The rattan bridge worked, and it is serving us,” he said.
Banabal said he is getting used to all the challenges, adding: “Mine is just to dedicate my knowledge and provide education to my learners, they wanted to go to school, going to school passing the rattan cable, is a sacrifice to all of us, but we have to.”
When informed about the action of Go, Banabal was speechless.
“I am so happy, narinig na ang Prayer namin, Salamat SAP Bong, hindi pa niya kami nakita pero nadama niya ang aming paghihirap. Salamat kay SAP Bong at kay President Duterte.”
On Saturday, June 23, Davao Oriental District Engineer Albert Cainnghog will visit the area to conduct survey and make cost’s estimate for the priority project.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
