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23 November 2023 – Vice President of the Philippines and Secretary of the Department of Education Sara Z. Duterte on Thursday led the simultaneous inauguration of newly-constructed buildings of Last Mile Schools (LMS) in Bicol region and the island of Leyte.

VP-Secretary Duterte, together with Senator Imee Marcos, personally turned over the LMS building in Dororian National High School in Gigmoto, Catanduanes in the morning and Cristo Elementary School in Donsol, Sorsogon in the afternoon.

Aside from the two schools, seven more LMS buildings were inaugurated, including Bato RDHS in SDO Catanduanes; San Miguelay Elementary School and Himokilan Elementary School in SDO Leyte; and Amaga Elementary School, Cat-iwing MG Elementary School, Bulawan Primary School, and Carnaga Elementary School in SDO Southern Leyte.

“Ang Last Mile Schools program po ay programa ng Department of Education kung saan hinihiwalay natin ang kanilang budget dahil sila ay priyoridad ng Department of Education. Ito po ‘yong mga lugar na GIDA areas o Geographically Isolidated and Disadvantaged Areas na pinapa-prioritize ang pagbigay ng pondo para sa kanilang pasilidad, kasama na ang classroom,” VP-Sec. Duterte said.

Last Mile Schools are those with less than four classrooms, usually makeshift and non-standard ones; with no electricity; and are usually located more than an hour away from the town center, only accessible through difficult terrains, and are located in far-flung mountains and isolated islands, among others.

In her speech, Duterte also emphasized the importance of peace and collaboration among community members to strengthen development efforts.

“Paalala ko lang po sa ating mga residente dito sa Gigmoto, dito sa Catanduanes, na kailangan po ang suporta natin ay ibigay natin sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Gigmoto, sa ating Mayor, sa ating Vice Mayor, sa ating mga konsehal, sa ating mga bagong pili na Barangay Captain para po isa lang ‘yong direksyon kung saan papunta o gusto ninyo kung saan ninyo gusto pumunta ang inyong municipality of Gigmoto dahil po kapag nagkakaisa ang lahat sa isang lugar ay nagiging malakas ‘yong lugar at nakikita ninyo ‘yong pagbabago at kaunlaran doon sa inyong lugar,” she said.

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