‘P50M classroom fund targets remote Kalinga schools with long student treks… di napan tayo idiay (nagrequest idiay) Malacañang, naikkan tayo ti budget’ – Gov. Edduba

Tabuk City, Kalinga – With the proposal approved and the budget already allocated, Governor James S. Edduba explained that the P50-million classroom development fund from the Department of Education (DepEd) was intentionally directed to schools located in geographically isolated areas of Kalinga, where learners endure long and difficult walks just to reach their classrooms.

Speaking before various stakeholders during the 1st Quarter Provincial Development Council Meeting on March 12 at the Davidsons Hotel in Bulanao, Edduba clarified that the schools included in the allocation were identified after observing the challenging conditions faced by young students. He cited two schools as examples.

“Diay Dao-angan Primary School, nu apay nga nainayon ket diay piman sumang-atan ti estudyante nga mapan idiay school ti makagapo. Ket nu kuma pay mabalin ket inggana Grade 6. Ngem ti proposed pay laeng dita ket 1 unit and 2 school buildings. Daytoy met Laytoc Elementary School (LES) is a proposal for a new school and it is included in the budget allocation. Diay Laytoc-Pakawit, adayo metlang piman ti pagnaen da ditoy Pakawit—nakitak piman isu nga in-propose ko ti SDS daytoy. So included dagitoy nga schools ayanti budget,” the governor said.

Edduba added that the proposal had been submitted to Director IV of the Office of the DepEd Secretary, Atty. Lucio Jesus Abalos, after which the provincial government was given a deadline following the signing of the memorandum of agreement.

“Nai-submit min idiay opisina ni Director Abalos ket naikkan tayon ti deadline. Kasi di napan tayo idiay Malacañang idi pinermaan diay MOA, ket isu dayta naikkan tayo ti P50M nga budget and then in-identify tayo dagitoy schools nga agkasapulan,” he added.

To recall, the proposal for the construction of Laytoc Elementary School (LES) was first raised during the Provincial Sports Council meeting held on January 19, 2026, at the Conference Hall in Bulanao. However, the DepEd Schools Division Office–Kalinga earlier said the plan was still under evaluation since Sitio Laytoc has no identified school site.

Later, during the Management Committee meeting held on March 9, 2026, Edduba announced that LES was among the schools identified, along with eight others, to benefit from the P50-million allocation from DepEd.

The allocation is expected to fund the construction and improvement of classrooms in the identified schools. Edduba emphasized that prioritizing remote schools will ensure safer and more accessible learning opportunities for young learners from far-flung communities across the province.