USAID distributes books to ADS schools
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PROSPERIDAD, AGUSAN DEL SUR – Students in five towns of this province will get to improve their reading and learning skills with the use of books received from the United States Aid for International Development (USAID).
This came about with the turn-over of more than 8,500 new books by The Asia Foundation under USAID to the provincial government of Agusan del Sur in simple rites held yesterday at the Provincial Training Center.
Efren Balajadia, the Director of the program dubbed as Books for Asia personally handed over to Vice Governor Santiago Cane Jr. the donations. Also on hand to witness the ceremony were Boardmembers Cesar Alonde, the SP education committee chair and Clint Yubuco, the Sangguniang Kabataan provincial federation president.
Asst. Division Superintendent Virginia Cuizon of the Department of Education headed the principals and teachers-in charge of the 167 beneficiary schools - 144 elementary and 23 high schools - from the municipalities of Bayugan, San Francisco, Bunawan, Trento and Sta. Josefa in getting the educational materials.
Other than the books, the local government unit of these towns are also getting technical support by way of capacity development for improved governance through the Transparent Accountable Governance Project, another USAID portfolio in the country.
In his brief message, Balajadia said he hoped the giving of books especially after the province was hit with flash floods early this year will help bring back enthusiasm for reading and learning of the children affected by the calamity. He declared he will send more books when he receives the written requests from the other nine none-recipient towns once additional books come in from the US.
For his part, Vice-Gov. Cane stated the province is willing to shell out funds to defray the cost for freight and handling of more books so all the students in the 14 municipalities of the province will get additional learning aids.
“The province deems education as the best tool in eradicating poverty and towards this end, Gov. Eddiebong Plaza has given his all-out support in providing every Agusanon child quality education,” Cane added. (PPIO_ADS)
Agusan del Sur Vice-Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. (2nd from right) goes over a book donated by The Asia Foundation of USAID through Efren Balajadia (3rd from right), Books for Asia program director to 167 elementary and high schools in 5 towns of the province. Looking on are DepEd Asst. Supt. Virginia Cuizon (rightmost) and Boardmembers Cesar Alonde and Clint Yubuco. (Nonoy Grado_PPIO/ADS)
Source:· Provincial Information Office - PGAS
