Only a few Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) are left to be established with a DepEd school according to Governor Tyron Uy during his message on the turn-over ceremony of the newly constructed one (1) unit, two (2) classroom buildings at Sitio Tagbawi, Brgy. Rizal, Monkayo, Davao de Oro on March 16, 2022.
The deterioration of red strongholds in the province is instrumental for government interventions to reach even the farthest corners of the valleys. From farm-to-market roads, health centers, water systems, sitio electrification, solar dryers, daycare centers, and integrated schools accredited by DepEd, government services now provide ease for the uplands.
Barely after a month of “Bayanihan” construction, the newly constructed building with complete amenities from school chairs, tables, boards, and comfort rooms can readily be used by two more neighboring sitios of Tagbawi; Sitio Little Depot and Upper Pasian.
Traversing the kilometers-long path down to the barangay proper of Rizal will no longer be a burden for the children as the school was now accessible and only a few meters away from their homes.
Sitio Tagbawi was once a guerilla-infested sitio in Brgy. Rizal, and in the year 2017, the community fully withdrew from supporting the communist group and became a beneficiary of the Oplan Pagbabago Program of the provincial government of Davao de Oro.
Further, a Solar Dryer project of the provincial government can now be used by the residents as a pavement for drying farm produce such as corn and coffee. The project was funded by the development fund of the province, and it's multi-purpose. A road-concreting project is also underway in Tagbawi. In no time, Tagbawi can be a whole new Sitio like no other.
The turnover ceremony was attended by Governor Tyron Uy, Vice Governor Maricar Zamora, Congressman Manuel Zamora, LTC Michael Aquino of the 25th Infantry Battalion, Rommel Jandayan OIC-SDS DepEd DdO, SGOD Ruben Reponte, Barangay Functionaries of Rizal, teachers, and staff of Rizal Memorial Elementary School, and Provincial employees. (JA, PAO-IPRD, photos by J. Cadiz)
