PIA Press Release
Saturday, January 07, 2012 Schools in CDO continue to relocate evacuees as classes beginby Jorie C. Valcorza CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Jan. 7(PIA) -– Hundreds of families seeking shelter in Macasandig, West and City Central Schools are now relocated and provided with better temporary shelters as children reports back to school, this week. Congressman Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City lauded the Department of Education (DepEd) courage and sincerity in pursuing the early opening of classes despite the presence of many evacuees inside its school campuses. As early as January 1, DepEd together with its partner companies, agencies and the different international humanitarian organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International and Disaster Aid who provided for the tents and other relief assistance, began deploying displaced families in Macasandig Elementary School to other nearby public schools in Agusan which now houses some 38 families sharing in 20 tents, the other 76 families were brought to Mandumol plaza in Macasandig with 30 tents, another 23 in Buena Oro, 20 families in Camaman-an Mt. Fatima Church and continue to transfer another 40 families the following day. For the City Central School, Congressman Rodriguez together with DepEd Regional Director Luz S. Almeda, identified the Regional Science High School covered court to best absorb some 50 families and free about 8 to 10 classrooms, while Cugman Elementary School can also house 40 families. Other school identified includes Puerto and Bugo Elementary School. Deployment continues with some 30 remaining tents from Plan International and other 95 tents donated by the Disaster Aid. Rodriguez noted in a media forum, held today at the Regional Educational Learning Center (RELC) that it is better this way since the camp is easier to manage with less people around, and with better access to facilities. HOLCIM has likewise provided cement for the construction of about 4 to 8 permanent comfort rooms on the said schools. The lawmaker bares that a village is also set aside for priority families in Barangays Indahag and Gusa amounting to Php200,000 house and lot. “This is not all free, they are still required to pay a very minimal monthly amortization of Php200 for the first five (5) years with a 30 years loan term, to allow more fund for the government in its future disaster/recovery operations,” the Congressman said. (PIA 10) | 
