Confiscated logs turned into chairs for use in schools

MANILA, Philippines – Almost 400 students from six public schools in the 2nd District of Quezon Province are now recipients of brand-new armchairs. This after school furniture made from confiscated logs was donated to the Department of Education (DepEd) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

A total of 6,922 board feet of confiscated logs were donated to the DepEd last October for conversion into school chairs through a request made by Quezon Province 2nd district Rep. Irvin Alcala to the DENR.

According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, the initiative was much appreciated by the DepEd because it will help resource gaps in school furniture particularly in chairs, cabinets and others. The DepEd chief also expressed his deep appreciation to local government executives who make education their priority.

“As part of our mandate to provide quality education for all Filipinos, we have received clear and emphatic marching orders from President Aquino to fast track the measures in addressing the learning resource gaps for almost 25 million children under our care,” he said.

“We recognize that the challenging task requires partnerships and engagement of the various stakeholders, hence we greatly appreciate this kind of initiative,” Luistro added.

Reports from the office of Alcala said of the total logs donated, only about 3,000 board feet were utilized because more than half of the logs could no longer be used. “From these, about 320 arm chairs were made and six schools within the congressional district were chosen as beneficiaries,” Luistro said.

A total of 50 armchairs were given to students of Talisay Elementary School (ES) in Tiaong, Mayapyap ES in Candelaria, Loob ES in San Antonio, San Mateo ES in Dolores, Bukal ES in Sariaya, and Ransohan ES in Lucena City.

“Getting everyone at the community setting engage in education initiatives will create a great impact in the education reforms the government is pushing for,” Luistro said. “The guiding principle is that educating our young is a responsibility not solely of DepEd, rather, it is a noble duty that must be shared by everyone in the community,” he added.

Since Luistro led the department, DepEd has already received a deluge of offers from various groups and individuals in support of the President’s education agenda. Just recently, the Leagues of Cities, Municipalities, and Provinces of the Philippines have each entered into a memorandum of agreement with DepEd to help in the building of classrooms under the counter-parting program.