CAGARA, Davao Oriental (Jun 25) — The wonders of technology. Yes, through the social network, Facebook, we found the video showing school children riding on a ‘Rattan Cable’ just to go to school.
For several times, the plight of the Mandaya kids in Butay has been reported by news agencies and emotions heightened every time their condition gets published.
On Friday last week, Newsline sent the video uploaded by Butay Integrated School principal Pablo Banabal to the Office of the President, through Special Assistant Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go at 5:59 in the evening, to get his comment on the situation of children. Two minutes later, Go relayed that the government will help. At 6:05, But just before Newsline uploaded the ‘Rattan cable story, Go informed that he will send a team to join us to meet Banabal on Saturday June 23.
Facebook, video and mobiles phone — in mere six minutes, the world changed for the whole community of Butay, a village located at the borders of Compostela Valley province, Surigao del Norte and Caraga. The journey of Butay’s Rattan Cable story started that night. The rest was history.
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On June 23, Newsline.Ph team proceeded to Caraga to interview Banal, but the plan changed, it turned our a
coordination meeting among LGU, DPWH and the Office of the President.
As we approached Caraga proper, Banabal informed us he was waiting at the residence of Mayor Alicia More. The team need to pay a courtesy visit to the local government officials.
Banabal was with barangay Pichon Tribal Chieftain Christine Banugan, her sister Caraga Councilors Daisy Jane Banugan-Polancos, Councilor Melody Ann Benitez, Engr. Danny Cutamora, the assistant construction engineer of Davao Oriental Engineering District. Lynneth Delacalzada of the Office of Special Assistant to the Office of the Presdient and was later joined by Vice Mayor Marilyn Iturralde in liue of the Mayor who was out.
Delacalzada said she was instructed by Go to make close coordination with the LGU, DPWH, Tribal Chieftain of Pichon and Banal to work on a sustainable and lasting bridge that will connect the villages of Sangab and Butay, Barangay Pichon, to end the misery of the schoolchildren and the people of Butay, in going in and out the village through the ‘Rattan’ cable.
Based on the meeting, the DPWH thru Engr. Cutamora will conduct and submit a survey and cost estimates for the proposed bridge in Pichon connecting the villages of Sangab and Butay.
It was also agreed that the team will closely coordinate with the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion through Colonel Jake Obligado, for mobility and requirements,
On June 23, the Newsline team and the OSAP team went to the villages of Sangab, in Barangay Pichon, to see the situation and to meet some leaders in the area.
Analiza and Ernesto Tanding, parents of five students of Butay Integrated School, who immediately went to barangay Pichon upon learning the visit thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and Go for the unexpected ans quick response to the need of the people.
Analiza and Ernesto Tanding .Newsline.ph
Banabal during the interview said he never realized that the video he uploaded last Thursday, June 22, will change the life of his students “I never expected my video will be noticed and our needs quickly responded, Salamat sa Newsline.ph. God made you the instrument for change.”
Banabal also thanked the President and Go for the “Instant response, I never expected it sir, Salamat President and Salamat SAP Bong.
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The meeting did not end with the deadline of the DPWH, the group agreed to help monitor the progress of the project. Newsline.ph and the Office of the President, through Go’s office, also agreed to go back to Butay very soon to deliver school supplies and materials for the Mandaya learners of Butay and join a medical mission.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
